Routine

 

Specimens should be placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) at a ratio of 1:10 tissue:formalin as soon as possible upon collection. (We can provide specimen jars with formalin if needed). Label the container (not the lid) and place the container in a sealed plastic bag along with the submission form. If packed for shipping, the sample should be surrounded by packaging material to prevent movement during shipping.

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Oversized samples

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If a sample is too large to submit in a container, the specimen should be shipped chilled (not frozen) within 24 hours or cut into smaller sections and fixed in separate containers. Alternatively, for large/thick specimens that fit into a container, regular 1 cm incisions can be made in the specimen to aid in formalin fixation. For large tumors, incise the free margin (through the skin for skin masses) and not through the deep margin, as this can hamper margin evaluation.

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Margin identification

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Ideally, surgical margins are marked prior to fixation to guarantee accurate orientation and to prevent distortion of margins by shrinkage during fixation. Ink or suture maybe used to identify margins, at least two adjacent margins must be identified for proper specimen orientation. Please include your margin identification on the submission form.

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Muscle and thin tissues

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For samples of thin tissue, specifically muscular organs, adhering the sample to a tongue depressor or placing in a cassette prior to fixation will prevent curling/distortion during fixation.

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Tubular organs

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Formalin should be able to contact both the mucosal and serosal surfaces. This can be done via flushing of the lumen with formalin or a full thickness incision along part of the specimen (opening the entire specimen will result in curling during fixation and should be avoided).

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Please feel free to call me if you have additional questions. If you would like to read further about the recommended guidelines for biopsy collection and submission, there was a nice article in Vet Path in 2011.

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Necropsy

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Necropsies are performed at the submitting clinic/hospital. Specimens should be kept in refrigeration until the time of necropsy. Handling of the remains are the responsibility of the submitting institution.