All Sites histology specimens requiring routine diagnosis must be placed in a suitable, clearly labelled container of adequate size with a tight fitting lid, containing a sufficient volume of 10% formalin to completely immerse the tissue. Failure to send specimens in adequate formalin or delaying fixation will be deleterious to the specimen. Over fixation can also can also affect the performace of tests and the interpretation of results. Therefore it is imperative that specimens are transported to the Laboratory without delay.
In the event of formalin spillage follow local spillage procedures.
Ensure that ALL specimens are placed into the provided Histopathology specimen bags and request forms are placed in the pockets of the bags.
BHH/SH specimen transportation
Specimens from operating theatres, DSU and endoscopy at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and from theatres and endoscopy at Solihull Hospital arrive in sealed boxes and are cross checked with the enclosed log book for audit purposes.
Ensure that the specimen bags are sealed securely before placing into
transport box.
The duplicate book must be sealed in the plastic wallet provided and
placed into the transport box.
The sealed transport box must be taken directly to Solihull Pathology Reception
for transportation to BHH or, for BHH specimens, be delivered by the portering service to Laboratory Medicine Reception at BHH.
Histology specimens from Solihull and some BHH clinics are received at Laboratory Medicine central reception area from where they are transported by a designated trained pathology porter to the histology specimen reception.
GHH specimen transportation
All specimens from Good Hope Hospital locations must be bought directly to the Histology Laboratory, where patient identification and specimen labelling will be checked . If transportation is subsequently required to BHH this will be organised by the department. GP Specimens are delivered to GHH Pathology reception and transported directly to BHH Pathology reception for transfer to the Histology Department.
Turnaround times, High risk, retention and reports BHH/GHH/SH
The majority of biopsy specimens are reported within 72 hours of receipt, but Major resections, complex cases and specimens requiring special techniques will take longer. If delays are anticipated, an interim/provisional report will be issued or the lead clinician contacted by telephone.
It is the departments aim to report 75% of inpatient cases, 80% outpatient cases and 90% of direct access cases within 10 working days.
Due to increased workload and some staff vacancies, the turnaround times are increased at present. Please highlight any specimens that may need prioritising.
High risk cases are left to fix for 24 hours after the date the specimen was taken, prior to cut-up.
Additional examinations on wet tissues are possible upto 28 days after a final report has been issued. Additional examinations on the tissue blocks can be requested upto 30 years post reporting. Microscope slide preparations of routine cases are available for examination 20 years post reporting. HER2 FISH slide preparations are kept 12 months post reporting. If a request has been made to freeze tissue it is kept for 10 years in liquid nitrogen. Human DNA is kept for 30 years for familial studies in the laboratory freezer.
Pathology reports are available to medical, selected nursing and secretarial staff within the Trust via the hospital intranet. Similar facilities are available to GP users.
