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RARC COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY LABORATORY
Telephone: 608-263-6464 Fax: 608-265-2698
Email: statz@rarc.wisc.edu
Pathology Services
The RARC laboratories provide diagnostic and consultative support to research and teaching efforts at the University of Wisconsin. The clinical lab provides serology, urinalysis, parasitology, bacteriology and hematology services for all species of animals. The pathology lab provides both diagnostic and research histology and pathology consultation along with diagnostic and quality control services. The clinical and pathology laboratories are located in the Enzyme Institute located at 1710 University Avenue on the Madison campus. The clinical lab is located in room 389 and the pathology lab in room 388 and 390.
Dr. Annette Gendron is director of Laboratory Services and Pathology. She has a Ph. D. in Comparative Pathology and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Dr. Ruth Sullivan is also with the RARC Pathology Service. Dr. Ruth Sullivan has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. She has a special interest in genetically modified rodent animal models, rodent models of cancer and rodent models of neurologic disease. All three pathologists are available for research pathology consultation. You may wish to discuss your pathology protocols with them prior to beginning a study in order to determine if any special procedures are needed. Phenotypic analysis and quality control testing are also available. Dr. Gendron can be reached at 262-1239, Dr. Sullivan at 890-0682 or 262-8740.
Ann Fisher manages the clinical laboratory. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a BS in Bacteriology. Maureen Decorah directs the histology lab and is a Certified Histologist. Ann Fisher can be reached in the clinical laboratory at 263-6464 and Maureen Decorah in the histology laboratory at 262-0933.
Submission Procedures
An RARC laboratory submission form must accompany all laboratory submissions. These forms can be downloaded and printed from the RARC website http://www.rarc.wisc.edu under the Protocol/Other Forms link and can be saved as stationery on your desktop. Please use the appropriate form for the species you are submitting and provide current “direct charge” numbers (required) for billing. Please consult with your department secretary or billing officer if you have questions regarding the correct information for billing purposes.
Investigators should call the laboratory at 263-6464 before delivering an animal or sample. Please note that properly taken and transported samples are essential for accurate results. Advice on sample collection can be obtained through consultation with the laboratory or your attending veterinarian. Quality control animals should be scheduled at least a week in advance. Animals should be submitted with a complete history and alive, if possible. If that is not an option, animals submitted for necropsy should be refrigerated immediately after death and not frozen.
Serum can be taken by RARC laboratory personnel or can be submitted either frozen or fresh and should be clearly identified on the tube. Comprehensive panels require a minimum of 0.2 ml of serum for mice and rats. If whole blood if submitted it must be delivered immediately after collection and arrangements made with the lab in advance. Hemolysis can interfere with testing and may be cause for error. Serum can be frozen for submission at a later date. Blood samples for CBC’s must be in unclotted (EDTA or heparin) collection tubes. Serum (or plasma) or a clot tube is required for clinical chemistries. Samples should be kept refrigerated if not immediately sent.
Specimens for parasitology must be submitted in a tightly sealed container and clearly identified. Swabs or tissue samples can be submitted for bacteriology. Samples should be taken in an aseptic manner and submitted free of contamination.
RARC will also accept tissues for histology and research preparation. Please call Maureen Decorah at 262-0933 to arrange this.
The laboratory welcomes questions and comments from its clients and is dedicated to providing a valuable service to the University community. Please call if you have any questions concerning services or test results