Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025
Manual Construction of a Tissue Microarray using the Tape Method and a Handheld Microarrayer
Published on: June 10, 2022
Simple method for constructing and repairing tissue microarrays using simple equipment
Wei Zhang1, Fuman Qiu1,2, Qingping Jiang1
1Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Objective:
Many methods for tissue microarray (TMA) construction were described in previous reports. Because TMA-based methods are expensive and complicated, their widespread application may be restricted. This study aimed to develop a simple method for TMA construction.
Methods:
High-density TMAs were constructed using simple equipment, and hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were performed to analyze the effect on the TMA block.
Results:
A recipient block with 162 holes of 0.9 mm in diameter was prepared using a mini-drill and plastic mold. Tissue cores of 1.0 mm in diameter were obtained from multiple donor blocks with stainless-steel capillary tubes driven by the mini-drill. Under the fixation and guidance of the plastic mold, tissue cores could be easily injected into the holes in the recipient block by inserting a stainless-steel wire into the stainless-steel tube with the tissue core and then pressing using the stainless-steel wire.
Conclusion:
A high-density TMA block with 162 1.0-mm cores was created. This new modified technique could be a good alternative in many laboratories.
