Outsourcing Histology Services: Partnering with a Research Pathology CRO
- KAMFEI WONG
- May 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 13
Modern biomedical R&D moves too fast for in-house bottlenecks. By outsourcing histology services to a research pathology CRO like iHisto, you gain instant access to specialized expertise, high-throughput workflows, and cost-efficient tissue pathology services—without adding headcount or capital equipment.
What Is a Research Pathology CRO?
A research pathology CRO (Contract Research Organization) provides end-to-end tissue pathology services—tissue processing, staining, imaging, and pathologist review—for preclinical and investigative studies. Instead of building an internal histology core, academic labs, biotech start-ups, and pharma teams rely on CROs to:
Process tissue blocks (FFPE or frozen) with rigorous QC.
Perform routine & special stains (H&E, PAS, Masson’s, etc.) See all routine histology services ➜
Run multiplex IHC/IF panels for biomarker discovery. Explore multiplex immunofluorescence services ➜
Generate high-resolution digital slides via Whole Slide Imaging ➜ for global collaboration.
Deliver quantitative image analysis and board-certified pathology reports
Why Outsourcing Histology Services Accelerates Research
Benefit | Impact on Your Lab |
|---|---|
Speed & Throughput | Parallel, automated pipelines shorten turnaround from weeks to days. |
Consistent Quality | Standardized SOPs minimize batch-to-batch variability. |
Lower Cost of Ownership | Avoid six-figure hardware purchases and ongoing maintenance. |
Scalability | Ramp from a handful of slides to thousands without capacity limits. |
Expert Oversight | Certified histotechnologists and pathologists ensure data integrity. |
iHisto’s Tissue Pathology Services—What Sets Us Apart
Research-Grade Quality – Trusted by universities, biotechs, and CRO partners nationwide.
5–7 Business-Day Turnaround – Faster decisions, fewer project delays.
Custom Protocols – Tailored fixation, antigen retrieval, or fluorophore panels on request.
Digital-First Delivery – Brightfield and fluorescence whole-slide imaging hosted on HistoCloud™ for remote review.
Transparent Pricing – No hidden fees; bulk discounts for high-volume outsourcing projects.
Local Convenience – Free specimen pick-up in Massachusetts for same-day processing.
Secure Archiving – Long-term storage of blocks, slides, and digital data for reproducibility.
Popular Use-Case Spotlights
Drug Discovery & Toxicology – Centralize global team review with cloud-hosted whole-slide images.
Biomarker Validation – Quantify protein or RNA expression across large cohorts using multiplex IF.
Spatial Biology Studies – High-plex fluorescence imaging plus HALO cell-phenotyping pipelines.
AI/ML Model Training – Curated libraries of annotated slides for algorithm development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you offer both brightfield and fluorescence scanning?
Yes—our P1000 brightfield and confocal fluorescence scanners capture 40×, 80×, and 100× images in MRXS or DICOM formats.
Q: Can I send frozen as well as FFPE tissue?
Absolutely. We routinely handle frozen blocks, cryosections, and FFPE samples with protocols optimized for each.
Q: How are slides shipped?
We provide detailed shipping kits and, within Massachusetts, complimentary same-day courier pick-up.
Q: What turnaround time can I expect?
Standard turnaround is 5–7 business days from sample receipt; expedited 48-hour options are available for qualifying projects.
Q: Do you handle diagnostic or clinical samples?
No. Our services are strictly for preclinical and research applications; we do not process or report on human diagnostic specimens.
Ready to Streamline Your Workflow?
Email info@ihisto.io or request a quote to see how outsourcing histology services to iHisto’s research pathology CRO can accelerate your next discovery.