[Histonet] Joint guideline on testing for HER2 status in invasive breast cancer

[Douglas D Deltour]

Has anyone had a chance to decipher this new guideline for HER2 testing? I
think that overall it is a good idea but I have an issue with appendix E. It
says that "Fixation times for needle biopsies have not been addressed."  Why
put out a guideline when the initial HER2 testing is done on the needle
biopsy? 

 

It also says "Breast specimens, after appropriate gross inspection and
designation of margins, should be promptly sliced at 5- to 10-mm intervals
and fixed in formalin (unsliced samples should not be fixed). The interval
between tissue acquisition and fixation of

breast specimens should be as short as possible." Am I off on this one by
thinking that "unsliced samples should not be fixed" means that the breast
should be delivered fresh? Does this mean that the sample that is not placed
in cassettes is not to be fixed? What do you do with the unsliced/unfixed
sample then? I need some coffee! Someone straighten me out. 

 

 

http://arpa.allenpress.com/pdf/i1543-2165-131-1-18.pdf

 

Douglas D. Deltour HT(ASCP)

Histology Supervisor

Professional Pathology Services, PC

One Science Court

Suite 200

Columbia, SC 29203

(803)252-1913

Fax (803)254-3262

 

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