General Core Laboratory

All current and potential CTSC investigators are encouraged to inquire about any assay or analytical technique that may prove useful in carrying out their protocols. We are always interested in developing new assays, or adapting assays established in basic research or in a different branch of medicine to requirements of a specific research protocol. The experienced staff of the Core Lab will work with investigators to prepare and test new assays for use.

Investigators are encouraged to consult with the Core Laboratory Director, Yuan-Shan Zhu, MD, PhD at 212-746-8348, or e-mail to yuz2002@med.cornell.edu

Each sample submitted to the Core Lab should accompany an Assay Request Form.

The Core Laboratory offers the following services

• Sample Processing and Storage: The core lab processes not only the samples assayed in the core lab, but also samples sent to outside for assays. Samples processed in the core lab include blood, urine, saliva, and cells.  The samples will be stored in the core lab for up to 2 years for those samples assayed in the core lab, and up to 6 months for those samples sent to outside for assays.
• Bulk immunodiagnostic and chemical assays: This enables planning of multiple sample-per-patient studies where instrumentation issues, sample size or precision requirements make performance of assays elsewhere impractical. Please refer to the list of core laboratory assays below for assays that are currently offered. If you need a specific assay not on the list, please contact Dr. Zhu when you prepare your protocol.

The following major equipments are available in the CTSC Core Lab

• A VICTOR3 Multilabel Reader
• A COBRA Auto-Gamma Radiation Counter
• A Liquid Scintillation Counter
• A WALAC Plate-reading Time-Resolved Fluorometer
• A Fomos and A Waters HPLC with electrochemical detection, binary gradient pumping, microbore (<1 mm diameter) columns and UV detector
• A Varian Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometers (GC-MS)
• A Bio-Rad Protean 2-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis System for protein separation and sample preparation for proteomics
• A Chronolog700 4-Clot Detection System used for assays of some blood coagulation factors that cannot be measured by standard immunodiagnostic methods
• A STart® 4 semi-automated hemostasis analyzer from Diagnostica Stago for electro-mechanical clot detection (PT, APTT, Fibrinogen, Thrombin Time, Reptilase Time, Factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Protein C & S Activity, PTT-lupus assay, Staclot LA, VIIa-rTF)
• A DCA2000+ Analyzer for plasma hemoglobin A1c and urinary albumin/creatinine tests
• A Cholestech LDX Analyzer for the measurement of blood lipid profile plus glucose and ALT
• Two Eppendorf Mastercycler Thermal Cyclers
• Multiple -20 and -70 Freezers, and centrifuges

List of Assays in Alphabetical Order: