Apparatus for producing high yield cores for use in a microarray block, method for using same

A method for making a microarray block, comprising:

• providing a mold having a cylindrical bore, the mold having opposite first and second ends, the first end of the mold having an opening of the cylindrical bore,
• introducing a biological sample and a liquid carrier medium of the aqueous form of an agarose gel through the opening in the mold, the biological sample being selected from the group consisting of a tissue sample, cell cultures and a combination of the foregoing,
• solidifying the liquid carrier medium in the mold to form a cylindrical core formed of both the biological sample and the agarose gel and having a length, the biological material being distributed along the length of the cylindrical core,
• removing the cylindrical core from the mold,
• disposing at least a portion of the cylindrical core in an internal bore in a recipient block formed from a material selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, an agarose gel and a combination of the foregoing, and
• dehydrating the cylindrical core and infiltrating the cylindrical core with paraffin before the disposing step to make the cylindrical core capable of forming a bond with the recipient block of sufficient strength to enable sections with physical integrity to be cut from the recipient block for analysis.