Specimen Transport, Accessioning and Gross Dissection Flashcards
What is the most common transport and storage condition
neutral buffered formalin
Why is formalin the worlds most popular fixative
- inexpensive, readily available, stable
- allows for a wide variety of testing to be done
- it is tolerant
Gluteraldehyde
a superior fixative for PNS specimens and electron microscopy
Bouin solution
excellent for tissue to be trichrome stained or for simultaneously fixing and decalcifying small fragments of tissue
Ethanol
required when uric acid demonstration is requested
When is fresh/frozen tissue used
molecular diagnostic techniques
When can cold isotonic saline be used to transport tissues
for kidney and muscle biopsies as long as transport takes less than an hour
What is michels medium
a non-fixative solution that preserves tissue antigenicity for immunofluorescent methods
Why can aldehyde fixatives not be used for immunoassays
they may create autofluorescence
What is RPMI
a solution specifically designed to support the growth and maintenance of human lymphocytes
How many identifiers are required on the paraffin block
one
What happens if there is a major specimen integrity issue
must not be processed without first having the submitting physician take full responsibility for the deficiency using a ‘waiver of responsibility’ document
What does the accession number tell us
S for surgical, A for autopsy
first number indicates the year
second number is the tallly of specimens recieved
A, B, C ect dictates what sample container it came from and the number after is what cassette number it is
What does gross dissection allow the lab to do
- efficiently process larger samples by submitting a smaller representative portion
- document what is recieved
- prepare samples for embedding
- ensure accurate diagnosis by documenting about the specimen
What are the main steps to grossing
Set up, Checking the req and containers, dictation, orientation, describe and dissect and submit for processing
What are the essential tools for grossing
forceps, scalpel handle and blades, ruler, cleaning brush, tissue dyes, acetic acid, container of formalin, biopsy bags and filter paper
What are the required things in every gross dictation
accession number, patient name, clinical history, type of specimen, number of containers, collection date and time, fixation date and time, description of sample, submission details
When should specimen orientation be determined
prior to cutting
What are the standard sections for appendix
proximal end and distal tip as well as any irregular areas and representative cross sections
What are the standard sections for placenta
membranes, cross section of the umbilical cord, any irregularities, atleast 2 full thickness sections
What are the standard sections for Gallbladder
a cross section of the cystic duct, lymph nodes, section or two of the fundus, any irregularities
What is a common cause of poor tissue processing
over filled cassettes
What type of skin samples must be transported in Michels medium
samples suspicious for bullous pemphigoid
What is an excisional biopsy
where the entire area of interest is contained within the biopsy
