Specimen Requirements

• If a specimen requires special handling, a phone call to alert Histology personnel will be placed.  Specially handled specimens are to be delivered in a fresh state to the Histology department.
• All specimens must be labeled with a minimum of 2 identifiers and site or location of sample. 
• If fixative is present it must be identified and containers shall also contain warning labels.  
• Biopsy containers with 10% buffered formalin are available from stores or from the Histology Department. 
• Additional fixatives for special studies or cytology are available upon request.  
• When multiple specimens are removed each should be placed in a separate container, numbered, and listed separately on the surgical requisition and within the electronic order.
• Large specimens, such as limbs, can be brought in the fresh state to the histology gross room and placed in the refrigerator.  If the specimen is too large, it must be placed in the morgue refrigerator.
  • Histology is to be notified and given the requisition slip.  These specimens must be accompanied by YRMC form 25280 consent waivers for permission for disposal of severed member.  
• All tissue and foreign body specimens are to be sent to pathology department for evaluation.  
  • Foreign bodies used in the execution of a crime should be submitted to Histology with a chain of custody form.  
• All other tissue specimens are to be submitted in 10% formalin.  The ratio of 1:20 tissue to formalin is necessary for proper fixation.