Retrospective: Unmatched FFPE Tissue Samples

Unmatched FFPE tissue blocks are formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens provided without paired blood specimens (plasma, buffy coat, or serum) from the same patient. These standalone tissue blocks are ideal for research focused exclusively on tissue-based analyses such as immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, spatial profiling, or tissue-based genomic studies where blood derivatives are not required. Unmatched FFPE samples offer faster access and lower costs compared to matched biospecimen sets, making them efficient choices for projects requiring only solid tumor material.

Every FFPE tissue block undergoes review by a pathologist at the collection site prior to release, followed by independent confirmation by MT Group's own board-certified pathologists. This multi-level review process verifies diagnostic accuracy, confirms adequate tumor content and tissue quality, and ensures specimens meet the precise disease criteria required for your research. Dual pathologist review provides confidence that FFPE blocks are correctly diagnosed, of high quality, and suitable for downstream applications, reducing the risk of inappropriate specimens compromising research outcomes.

Comprehensive clinical documentation accompanies each FFPE tissue block including patient demographics (age, gender, ethnicity), disease diagnosis with histological subtype and grade, disease stage at collection, treatment history (prior therapies, treatment-naive status), relevant biomarker status (when tested as standard of care), surgical pathology reports, and collection date. Clinical annotation depth varies by specimen based on what was documented during clinical care. This detailed clinical context provides the metadata necessary for correlating research findings with clinical parameters.

FFPE blocks from MT Group's curated repository can typically be shipped within ~2 weeks after specimen selection and order placement. Turnaround time depends on inventory verification, pathologist review confirmation for selected blocks, and preparation of accompanying clinical documentation. For projects with urgent timelines, expedited processing may be available for in-stock specimens.

MT Group stands behind the quality of every FFPE tissue block delivered. If any specimen fails to meet agreed-upon specifications such as tumor content percentage, tissue quality, or other parameters, we will replace the specimen at no additional cost. This guarantee ensures your research investment is protected and that FFPE blocks arrive ready for immediate use in critical experiments. Replacement eligibility is determined through review of quality concerns and pathology verification.

Fully consented FFPE blocks are collected under protocols where individual patients provide explicit informed consent for research use of their tissue, including commercial research applications. IRB-approved, waiver-of-consent blocks are residual clinical specimens where the collecting institution’s IRB released the blocks for research use by waiving individual consent requirements based on minimal risk criteria and impracticality of obtaining consent. Waiver-of-consent specimens are de-identified to protect patient privacy and typically have the same permissible research uses as fully consented specimens. Both collection types are ethically sourced under appropriate regulatory oversight.

MT Group maintains FFPE tissue inventory across diverse cancer types such as bile duct, bladder, brain, breast, cervical, colon, rectal, endometrial, gastric, gastro-esophageal junction, glioblastoma, head & neck, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian, pancreatic, triple-negative breast cancer, and uterine cancer. Other conditions such as Crohn’s disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and ulcerative colitis are also available. Inventory availability fluctuates as specimens are allocated to projects. Contact us for current inventory lists and availability for your specific disease state and stage requirements.

MT Group maintains an inventory of matched biospecimen sets with FFPE tissue paired with plasma and buffy coat from the same patients. Matched sets enable concordance studies between tissue and blood-based biomarkers. If your research would benefit from paired tissue and blood specimens, please inquire about our matched biospecimen inventory which includes FFPE blocks with corresponding double-spun plasma and buffy coat samples across multiple tumor types.

An onsite biobank maintains physical specimen inventory at a centralized storage facility, providing direct access to banked samples. In contrast, a virtual biobank coordinates specimen procurement across multiple collection sites and biorepositories rather than housing all inventory in a single location. MT Group maintains an onsite bank and also operates as a virtual biobank network to maximize FFPE collection possibilities for its customers.

To request an FFPE inventory output sheet, please submit a web request. We will generate a customized specimen list with available cases matching your criteria, including summary clinical information for each specimen to facilitate selection. You can review the output sheet, select specific cases of interest, and we will provide a quote for your chosen specimens.