Histopathology

Container/Tube: Jar(s) of assorted size containing formalin, large plastic tube(s), or fixative container(s)
Specimen Volume: Tissue
Forms: Surgical Pathology Request Form 

1. Small biopsy specimen is to be placed immediately in 10% formalin solution. Use approximately 20 times as much formalin solution as bulk of tissue.
2. Small tissue such as from bronchoscopic biopsy, bladder biopsy, and endometrium can be ruined in a short time by placing in saline or allowing to dry. The following tissues should always be placed in formalin:
      All tissue removed on weekends and holidays, small skin tumor and mole, uterine curetting, cervical biopsy, breast biopsy, nerve or brain tissue or   tumor, prostate tissue from TUR, bladder tumor, nerve and ganglia, rectal polyp, ENT biopsy, bone tumor, intervertebral disc, gallbladder, liver biopsy, bronchoscopic biopsy, fallopian tube segment, or any biopsy from any other site not listed.
3. Organ and larger tissue resections are to be placed in larger container for this purpose, and specimen should be moistened with formalin solution to prevent drying.
4. Gallbladders undergo rapid degeneration. Therefore, it requires immediate fixation in 10% formalin solution. An incision made in gallbladder will aid in more rapid fixation.
5. Lymph node should be submitted fresh, directly to pathologist when there is suspicion of infectious disease or malignant lymphoma.
6. Culture of tissue is best taken in operating room, where a sterile field exists. A piece of tissue (eg, a curetting of a fistulous tract) should be placed in an anaerobic tube with requests for: smear, culture, anaerobic culture, acid-fast bacilli, and fungus.
7. Bullet, shotgun pellet, and other metallic objects require special handling. No fixative is needed. A chain-of-possession must be maintained for all bullets.
8. Specimen should be sent to the specimen receiving area at CoxHealth Laboratories as soon as conveniently possible in order to expedite processing which leads to eventual microscopic diagnosis.
9. Please do not leave specimen in operating room until final clean-up after patient has gone to recovery. The surgeon will almost always give permission for specimen to be sent to Pathology as soon as it has been removed.