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Department of Pathology

Electron Microscopy Laboratory

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Services | Submission Process | Support the Lab

Electron microscopy and related services are available to faculty, staff, and graduate students through the department's facility located in Room 1103 of the ICM wing at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Diagnostic Services

Diagnostic services are available for the Department of Pathology, the Athens Diagnostic Laboratory, the Poultry Disease Research Center, and the College's Teaching Hospital—in which electron microscopy is essential for correct diagnosis. Diagnostic services are also offered to outside veterinary clinics and other diagnostic facilities requiring electron microscopy.

Research Services

Research in electron microscopy is also done for various departments both within the College of Veterinary Medicine and throughout the UGA campus, as well as surrounding research facilities.

Instruction and Training

On-site instruction and training is available to most individuals who would like to utilize the facility for their own research and casework.

Graduate students or technicians needing the services of the facility in their own or assigned research projects are encouraged to take the electron microscopy course offered annually through the UGA Center for Advanced Ultrastructural Studies.

« Submission Process

The Service Request Forms are used when submitting samples (see guidelines below) for:

Forms must be filled out completely and accompany all samples submitted to this facility.

Service Request Forms

See our Fee Schedule [PDF] for available service packages and pricing.

Sample Submission Guidelines

« Negative staining for viral confirmation/ identification

Sample (usually feces or other body fluid) should be submitted fresh in a closed container or syringe with needle detached or protected. A Clinic # or other identification needs to be written on the container/syringe, or the sample will not be accepted. Tissue samples for negative staining should be submitted fresh, and the EM Lab should be notified prior to submission. There are extra charges for homogenizing these tissue samples. Preparation and interpretation will take 3–48 hours depending on workload.

« Tissue processing for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Sample should be submitted fixed in an approved EM fixative*. Sample should be submitted in pieces no larger than 3mm at any one length. A Clinic # or other identification needs to be written on the container as well as the type of fixative the sample was placed in. Processing takes 5–7 working days.

* An approved EM fixative contains a 1.5%–3% glutaraldehyde solution in a stable buffer pH 6.8–7.3. It may also contain formaldehyde of up to 4%. Appropriate fixatives are available in the EM Lab.

« Tissue processing for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Sample should be submitted fixed in an approved EM fixative*. Sample can be up to 1cm (1.5 in) at any one length, but be aware that the ratio of fixative:sample should be 10:1 (v/v). Clinic # or other identification needs to be written on the container as well as the type of fixative the sample was placed in. Processing takes 3–5 working days.

* An approved EM fixative contains a 1.5%–3% glutaraldehyde solution in a stable buffer pH 6.8–7.3. It may also contain formaldehyde of up to 4%. Appropriate fixatives are available in the EM Lab.

« Supporting the EM Lab

If a corporation would like to financially support this growing EM facility on a yearly basis by contributing to the equipments' service maintenance contracts, the costs incurred for services will be discounted to the academia fees for a designated period of time. See the corporate support form below for more information.

Electron Microscopy Laboratory
Department of Pathology
501 DW Brooks Drive
Athens, GA 30602-7388

For More Information

Mary B. Ard, HT(ASCP), BS
Electron Microscopy Laboratory Coordinator
Department of Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7388

Phone: 706.542.5537
FAX: 706.542.5828
Email: maryard@uga.edu

Related Links

Submission Process

Fee Schedule [PDF]