[Histonet] Formalin vs. Saline Specimen Submission

[O'Brien, Sue]

I was wondering how other hospitals handled specimens submitted from the
OR (Operating Room). Currently, our routine specimens (ones that do not
require special testing and submission) are submitted in 10% NBF
(Neutral Buffered Formalin). 

Thank-you for taking the time to respond!

 

How are routine specimens submitted to your lab from the OR (chose one)?

     a. in formalin (e.g. 10% NBF)

     b. in saline

     c. fresh

     d. other (specify): 

 

A. For specimens are received by OR in formalin:

    Is the specimen placed in formalin in the OR procedure room? 

If yes, how is it done? 

a.       under a fume hood

b.       placed in container which has formalin 

c.       other (specify):

           If no, how is it done?

a.       specimen placed in container and taken fresh to another room
where formalin is added

b.       other (specify): 

           Does the OR have a fume hood available for use (to put
specimens into formalin under it)?

 

B. For specimens submitted by OR in saline:

    a. How long (generally) is the specimen in saline until it is placed
into formalin?

    b. What volume of saline is used? (e.g. enough to keep moist, or
enough to submerge 

        specimen)?

     c. Who transfers the specimen into formalin? (e.g. histo or lab
tech at time of receipt, or does it 

         wait until the Pathologist grosses it? If it waits for the
Pathologist, then for how long, and how 

          is it refrigerated?)

    d. Are specimens refrigerated? If yes, where (e.g. in OR, in lab, in
histology).

 

C.  For specimens submitted fresh:

     a. how long (generally) is the specimen fresh before placement into
formalin?

     b. How do you keep the small specimens from drying out?

     c. Who transfers the specimen into formalin? (e.g. histo or tech at
time of receipt, or does it 

         wait until the Pathologist grosses it? If it waits for the
Pathologist, then for how long, and 

         how is it refrigerated?)

     d. Are specimens refrigerated? If yes, where (e.g. in OR, in lab,
in histology).

 

If you receive specimens either in saline or fresh (and they are not
refrigerated immediately):

a.	How do you feel they compare to specimens that were immediately
placed into formalin? (e.g. better morphology, 

      worse morphology, etc).

b.	Who handles specimens submitted after hours? (e.g.
weekends/holidays; are they left at room temp, refrigerated, 

      or does someone (who?) transfer them into formalin (how?).

 

Sorry for the length, but I would really appreciate knowing how others
handle this.

Sincerely,

 

Susan O'Brien, Histology Supervisor

Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital

Cape May Court House, NJ  08210