HISTOLOGY

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Specimens must be fully submerged in an optimal volume of formalin to achieve a formalin to specimen volume of 10:1 or higher, or if not feasible (eg, large specimens) at least 4:1.  If delivery of a resection specimen to the pathology department is expected to be delayed, the tumor should be bisected prior to immersion in fixative. In such cases, it is important that the surgeon ensure that the identity of the resection margins is retained in the bisected specimen; alternatively, the margins may be separately submitted.

For specimens that potentially require cancer predictive marker testing (e.g. breast, gastrointestinal and lung biopsy and resection specimens), rapid immersion of specimens in fixative is critical, and must occur within one hour of the biopsy or resection.  Fixation for duration of at least 6 hours and up to 72 hours at room temperature is recommended.

Please indicate in CPOE order the “Specimen Out Time” and “Specimen Fixation Time” to facilitate documentation and calculation of cold ischemia time and for determination of optimal duration of fixation.

Sterile container

Depends on complexity of case. 

An inadequately-filled CPOE order will result in delay.

SKH

Yes

Mondays - Saturdays (Office Hours)

• Raise CPOE order under Histopathology lab order form.
• Tick on 'histopathology' tick box and fill all necessary fields.
• Please complete and vet the order once specimen is ready to be despatched to Anatomical Pathology lab.