Renal Biopsies
- As renal pathology is a highly specialized area, requiring several special techniques for full evaluation, Summit Pathology does not process renal biopsies for medical disease evaluation in our laboratory. We do process and evaluate biopsies for renal masses and tumors, however.
- Currently, Summit refers all medical renal biopsies to the Mayo Clinic for evaluation.
- Here are several general guidelines for these specimens:
- Proper evaluation of renal biopsies for medical diseases requires evaluation of tissue under light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescent histology. Each of these requires proper fixation of the biopsy material.
- Usually, the tissue is divided at the time of the procedure for proper preservation. For more details on this, you can download the Mayo Clinic Renal Biopsy Instruction Sheet.
- The portion for light microscopy is placed in 10% formalin
- The portion for electron microscopy is placed in 1% glutaraldehyde (Trumps fixative)
- The portion for immunofluorescent histology is placed in Zeus tissue fixative.
- All of these fluids are available as part of the Mayo Clinic Renal Biopsy Kit; stocked by all of our associated hospitals.
- You will also need to complete the Renal Biopsy Patient Information Sheet
- These biopsies are sent to Mayo by our associated hospitals, so please contact the appropriate hospital laboratory in the facility where the biopsy will be performed for more information and for specimen transport.
- For other questions, please call us at 970-461-6091.