Collection Manual: Diathermy Loop Excision Specimen
Description:
Tissue specimens (surgical biopsies) will be submitted in 10% formalin for proper fixation.
MATERIALS
Formalin jar (pre-filled 40ml and 60ml. CAUTION: POISON, CARCINOGEN).
Requisition form, marking ink or suture, biohazard transport bag.
PREPARATION
1. Complete a requisition form. White copy to the lab. Lack of data may result in specimen delay or rejection.
Please include:
• Clinician name, location and date of service.
• Patient demographics: Name, address, phone number, date of birth and social security number.
• Insurance information: Copy of insurance card(s) or face sheet.
• Description of tissue including site, position, laterality etc. If multiple parts, label each A, B, C etc and
provide
corresponding descriptions.
• A diagram (on the requisition form) to illustrate as closely as possible the shape, size, location of the
biopsy and
the location of the ink.
• Relevant clinical history and symptoms.
• Requests for special stains, immunofluorescence, chromosome studies etc.
2. Label the specimen cassettes and formalin jars.
• Submit each separate biopsy part in its own cassette and/or formalin jar.
• Label each cassette to identify surgical site (either 3:00, 6:00 or A, B, C etc corresponding to the description on
the requisition form). Label cassettes using a #2 pencil.
• Label each formalin jar with the patient first name, last name and site (either 3:00, 6:00 or A, B, C etc. corresponding
to the description on the requisition form).
COLLECTING THE SPECIMEN
3. Cone-shaped specimens:
• Mark the 12 o'clock position across the squamo-columnar junction with ink.
• Do not cut specimens open.
• Submit cone specimens as follows based on specimen size:
a) 1.5 cm or smaller - placed in a white cassette and submitted in a labeled 60 ml formalin jar.
b) larger than 1.5 cm are too large for a cassette. Place directly in a labeled 40 ml formalin jar.
4. Tissue strips:
• Mark the aspect (border) of the specimen closest to the cervical os with ink.
• Place the specimen in a lavender cassette, labeled as to site.
• Place the specimen into a labeled formalin jar.
PACKAGING FOR TRANSPORT
5. Verify that all lids are properly seated and tight.
6. Seal the specimen jars in a biohazard transport bag.
• Place the jars in the zip-loc portion of the bag and the requisition form in the outer sleeve.
7. Refrigeration is not required.