Our pathologists provide the most up to date analysis of biopsy and necropsy specimens with tailored reports that fit your needs. Images and can be directly imported into your reports.
Our combined expertise includes cancer diagnostics, dermatopathology, musculoskeletal and dental, nasal diseases, and gastrointestinal and hepatopathology, ocular pathology, reproductive pathology and much more
Preparing Specimens
Small specimens
- Place specimen in small jar filled 1/2 to 3/4 full with formalin (10% NBF)
- Ideal amount of formalin is 10:1
- 10 times the volume of formalin as the sample
- Small samples are ready for shipping immediately. Formalin fixation occurs at a rate of 1 mm per hr for the first hr, and then slows to about 1 mm every 3 hours. A 1 cm thick tissue will fix completely in 12 hours in the correct volume of formalin.
- Specimens should be no larger than 2-3 cm
- Ensure the formalin jar is filled 1/2 to 3/4 full
Large specimens
- Spleen, liver lobe etc
- Fix in 10% NBF; it is a good idea to obtain a supply for large samples
- 10% NBF at 10:1 formalin: tissue
- Blood filled specimens fix more slowly
- In general over night fixation is adequate for shipping purposes; in general large specimens take 1-2 weeks to fix completely
- Include a small amount of formalin in the primary container with the sample
NOTE:
- Makes sure all lids are leak proof
- Enclose cytology slides in air tight packaging if submitted with biopsies, because formalin vapors can cause artifacts in cytology smears.
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