Specimen Requirements

Submit tissue fixed in 10% buffered formalin.Attach a formalin hazard sticker to formalin containers. Use approximately 5 to 20 times as much fixative solution as bulk of tissue. Small biopsies <5 mm can dry out rapidly and should be fixed immediately. Do not squeeze specimen before fixing as this distorts cells.

Note:  1. Certain specimens, including frozen section, muscle biopsy, and kidney biopsy, require special handling; see appropriate test listings.

2. Specimen source is required to be on both the specimen container and the pathology requisition for processing.

3. Specimen container label must contain two unique patient identifiers (ie., patient full name and date of birth)

4. The attending physician must complete an “Anatomic Pathology Request Form”. Include the following:

• Source/site of specimen
• Date and time collected
• Collector's initials
• Patient history, if known

  Specimens cannot be processed unless they are received with a pathology requisition order.