Pricing
We welcome users from outside the University of Chicago campus. External users will need to provide a standing purchase order and PI and grants administrator contact Information in advance. External rates may apply.
Northwestern and the University of Illinois at Chicago are members of the Chicago Biomedical Consortium and as such are entitled to internal / UChicago user rates.
Members of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center receive a subsidy when using the Integrated Microscopy Core Facility.
MICROSCOPE USE FEES – UPDATED July 1, 2025
| Service | Unit | Internal* | External Affiliated | External (Academic Non-profit) | External Start-Up Company | External Commerical | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axio Observer | Hour | $35.45 | $35.45 | $57.65 | $64.85 | $72.04 | |
| Long Term Timelapse | Hour | $5.77 | $5.77 | $9.38 | $10.50 |
$11.63 |
>5 hours of imaging, first 5 hours charged at regular rate |
| Axioskop | Hour | $22.50 | $22.50 | $36.59 | $43.89 | $51.20 | |
| Caliber confocal | Hour | $31.80 | $31.80 | $51.72 | $57.90 | $64.08 | |
| Consulting/Assisted imaging | Hour | $35.00 | $35.00 | $56.92 | $63.72 | $70.53 | + microscope time |
| dellArivisWS | Hour | $5.60 | $5.60 | $9.11 | $10.20 | $11.28 | |
| Imaris Workstation | Hour | $5.60 | $5.60 | $9.11 | $10.20 | $11.28 | |
| IX81 microscope | Hour | $22.50 | $22.50 | $36.59 | $40.97 | $45.34 | |
| Lattice Lightsheet | Hour | $33.60 | $33.60 | $54.65 | $61.28 | $67.91 | |
| LaVision LS | Hour | $31.80 | $31.80 | $51.72 | $57.90 | $64.08 | |
| Leica GSD-3D | Hour | $33.70 | $33.70 | $54.81 | $61.36 | $67.91 | |
| Leica SP5 2-photon | Hour | $47.50 | $47.50 | $77.25 | $86.74 | $96.22 | |
| Leica SP5 STED CW | Hour | $45.00 | $45.00 | $73.19 | $81.94 | $90.68 | |
| Leica SP8 confocal | Hour | $47.30 | $47.30 | $76.93 | $86.57 | $96.22 | |
| Leica Stellaris8 confocal | Hour | $47.30 | $47.30 | $76.93 | $86.57 | $96.22 | |
| Live DSU confocal | Hour | $22.50 | $22.50 | $36.59 | $40.97 | $45.34 | |
| Marianas confocal | Hour | $34.40 | $34.40 | $55.95 | $62.94 | $69.93 | |
| Marianas SoRa confocal | Hour | $35.45 | $35.45 | $57.65 | $64.85 | $72.04 | |
| Stereomicroscope | Hour | $22.50 | $22.50 | $36.59 | $40.97 | $45.34 | |
| Training Fee | Person | $40.00 | $40.00 | $65.05 | $72.83 | $80.61 | Max. 3 trainees + microscope time |
| Workstation | Hour | $3.40 | $3.40 | $5.53 | $6.19 | $6.85 | |
| 35mm #1.5 Glass Bottom Dishes | Each | $1.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | Sold as sleeves of 10 sterile, uncoated |
| Zeiss high tolerance #1.5 coverslips | Box | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | box of 1000, 18mm x 18mm #1.5 uncoated |
* UChicago users with certain Center grant memberships are eligible for Center grant copayments
WHOLE SLIDE SCANNING — UPDATED July 1, 2025
These rates are for standard 1 inch x 3 inch slides. Larger slides may be charged proportionally higher rates to account for additional scan time.
Please note if you want your DAPI scanned it counts as a color channel. For example, DAPI + GFP = two colors.
We are happy to scan slides shipped to us from outside users; our rates take into consideration the University’s indirect costs. Please contact us for information on how to ship your slides to the facility. We will ask you to provide a FexEx account number to cover return shipping costs.
| Service Name | Unit | Internal | External Affiliated | External (Academic Non-Profit) | External Start-Up Company | External Commercial | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Histology Scan | Slide | $6.10 | $6.10 | $9.92 | $11.16 | $12.39 | Tissue area is less than or equal to 25mm^2 |
| Z-stack – Small Histology Scan | Slide | $3.05 | $3.05 | $7.40 | $9.07 | $10.73 | In addition to small slide scan charge, create volume stack |
| Rush Fee – Small Histology Scan | Slide | $12.20 | $12.20 | $19.87 | $22.33 | $24.79 | In addition to small slide scan charge, move to the head of the queue |
| Large Hisology Scan | Slide | $12.05 | $12.05 | $19.80 | $22.04 | $24.28 | Tissue area is greater than 25mm^2 |
| Z-stack – Large Histology Scan | Slide | $6.15 | $6.15 | $13.56 | $16.61 | $19.65 | In addition to large slide scan charge, create volume stack |
| Rush Fee – Large Histology Scan | Slide | $24.60 | $24.60 | $40.01 | $44.99 | $49.98 | In addition to large slide scan charge, move to the head of the queue |
| Fluoroscan-1-Color | Slide | $12.30 | $12.30 | $20.01 | $22.50 | $24.99 | Tissue area is less than or equal to 25mm, single color fluorescence |
| Fluoroscan-Extra-Color | Channel | $3.60 | $3.60 | $5.86 | $6.56 | $7.25 | Tissue area is less than or equal to 25mm, each additional color |
| Z-stack – Fluoroscan-1-Color | Slide | $6.15 | $6.15 | $10.10 | $11.30 | $12.49 | In addition to slide scan charge, create volume stack |
| Rush Fee – Fluoroscan-1-Color | Slide | $24.60 | $24.60 | $40.01 | $44.99 | $49.98 | In addition to slide scan charge, move to the head of the queue |
| Fluoroscan-1-Color-Large | Slide | $18.50 | $18.50 | $30.08 | $33.83 | $37.59 | Tissue area is greater than 25mm, single color |
| Fluoroscan-Extra-Color-Large | Channel | $5.95 | $5.95 | $9.67 | $10.83 | $11.99 | Tissue area is greater than 25mm, each additional color |
| Z-stack Fluoroscan-1-Color-Large | Slide | $9.20 | $9.20 | $15.09 | $16.86 | $18.64 | In addition to slide scan charge, create volume stack |
| Rush Fee Fluoroscan-1-Color-Large | Slide | $36.80 | $36.80 | $59.85 | $67.31 | $74.76 | In addition to slide scan charge, move to the head of the queue |
| Scan Prep Charge | Slide | $3.60 | $3.60 | $5.86 | $6.56 | $7.25 | e.g. Slides require extra cleaning, label covering or other processing by core staff |
FINES
| Incident | Fine |
|---|---|
| Oil on objective | $100 per objective per incident |
| Damaged objective | Half the cost of a new objective ($2000-$16,000 depending on objective) |
| Microscope left on overnight | Person who scheduled the last session will be charged hourly fee for time left on + repair cost for any resulting damage, and possible loss of scheduler privileges |
| Appointment cancellation 24 hrs. or less in advance of scheduled session start time | Use charges for 100% of reserved microscope time, minus charges for time booked and used by another user IF ANY. Excessive short notice cancellations may result in loss of scheduler privileges |
There are no center grant discounts on fines