Specimen Collection and Handling

If this tissue is for Frozen Section (Intraoperative Consultation) or Lymph Node Protocol, do not put in formalin - leave it fresh and send to Pathology Department immediately with correct orders.

If the specimen is a muscle biopsy- OR scheduling staff should notify the gross room as soon as the procedure is scheduled. Muscle biopsies should never be scheduled on a Friday or the weekend. The specimen must be obtained before 12pm on the day of the procedure. The specimen should be left fresh and wrapped in moistened gauze with normal saline and taken to the gross room immediately.

If sent after hours - take directly to the lab and the lab will contact the appropriate personnel.  Gross Room hours Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays).

If this tissue is to be shared with microbiology, the specimen(s) should be submitted fresh and take to the gross room.  

All other specimens for routine processing should be placed into pre-filled formalin jars immediately. The formalin to tissue ratio should be about 10:1.  If the specimen is too large for the prefilled jars, put it into a container and bring to the Gross Room immediately so staff can add formalin to it.