How should I submit this specimen?
Formalin is the routine fixing agent for pathology specimens, and the vast majority of specimens should be placed in formalin as soon as possible.
However, there are some exceptions. Please refer to our online specimen guide for detailed information. Some specimens that should not be placed immediately in formalin are:
- Specimens for frozen section analysis
- Lymph nodes
- Specimens for chromosome analysis
- Muscle, nerve and renal biopsies
- Specimens for flow cytometry analysis
All specimens must be properly labeled and be accompanied by an accurate requisition form. The following information is requested on our requisition form:
- Patient’s full name
- Date of birth
- Complete address
- Medical record number (for hospital based patients)
- SSN
- Submitting physician
- Other physicians who should receive a copy of the report
- Date of specimen collection
- Appropriate clinical history
- ICD-9 code
- Site of specimen
- Any special studies requested
- Insurance information (copy of front and back of insurance card can be attached to the requisition)