Updates

Research Research Tissue Support Service (RTSS)

Research and Tissue Support Services (RTSS) provides services for faculty and staff to fulfill the requirements to their approved basic, translational and clinical research protocols at Texas Children’s Hospital, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine and other affiliated institutions.

The RTSS Core follows the International Society of Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) established guidelines and has more than ten years of experience in biorepository services of obtaining, processing, cataloging, storing and distributing biological specimens for research use. The RTSS Core members have many years of experience in the fields of biobanking, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and education.

The RTSS Core Laboratory provides a wide variety of services, including biorepository, biochemical and cell biology procedures, cell culture, dry ice, LN2, CO2 support, rent-a-bench, consultation, and biological material shipping.

Operating procedures

Project billing outline

SOP for registering your study and bringing samples into RTSS for processing

Forms

RTSS Service Request Form
Note: You will be directed to the Clinical Research Resources Website. If it’s the first time, you will need to register by clicking on ‘New user? Register here’.

RTSS Tissue Identification Form

For same day shipping, samples must be in the lab by 4 pm.
For shipment by FedEx, not processed by RTSS, there is a 5 pm deadline.

Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm

Location and mailing address
Research Tissue Support Service (RTSS)(Non-Tissue Mail Only)
Feigin Tower
1102 Bates Ave., Ste. 1130.11
Houston, TX 77030

Our Services

Biorepository services

  • Collecting, processing and distributing tumor and non-tumor specimens for protocols
  • Processing and storing blood, bone marrow and spinal fluid samples for protocols
  • Sample storage services in controlled -80 oC and LN2 freezers for protocols

Biochemical and Cell biology procedures services

  • Isolating mononuclear cells from bone marrow and/or blood samples
  • Extracting DNA and/or RNA from fresh or frozen samples

Cell culture Services

  • Establishing primary cell cultures from tissue samples,
  • Developing continuous cell lines from primary cultures, Preliminary characterization of cell cultures (morphology, growth characteristics, specific antigen expression testing etc.)
  • Cryopreserving (live cell freezing) cell cultures, cell suspensions
  • Complete media, Custom Cell Culture Media Preparation for protocols

Dry ice, Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) and CO2 support Service

  • RTSS has a reserved, Dry ice, LN2 and CO2 supply for shipping, transporting, or emergency use for customers

“Rent-a-Bench” and Equipment use Service

  • RTSS has designated clean bench spaces, work-stations, and equipment for short term, daily or periodic use for protocols

Shipping Service

  • Packing, handling and shipping biological materials according Class 6.2 Dangerous goods for protocols

Consultation, Advisory and Educational Services

  • Scientific assistance provided to principal investigators for planning and development of projects, identifying the needs, and determining how RTSS can support those.
  • Writing Standardized Operational Procedures (SOP) for protocols
  • Organizing and Presenting Scientific procedures for continuing educational purposes at different levels for specific target audition

Equipment

  • Ultra freezers (-80 oC) (x10)
  • Freezers (-20 oC) (x3)
  • LN2 freezers (x23)
  • Refrigerators (x4)
  • Dry ice, LN2 and CO2 supplies
  • Biosafety cabinet (x4)
  • Laboratory centrifuges (x4)
  • Micro-centrifuges (x3)
  • pH meter (x1)
  • Laboratory balance (x1)
  • Analytical balance (x1)
  • Cell counter (x1)
  • CO2 Incubators (x4)
  • Biological material shipping supplies

Lab Members