[Histonet] Re: Pinning Specimen

[Bob Richmond]

Karen Heckford HT ASCP CE at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco asks:

>>Does anyone know where to get specimen boards that you can pin specimens to and then submerse in formalin? I ordered them a long time ago and cannot remember where I got them.<<

I've solved this problem several ways. Probably the best, which has
already been mentioned, is to have blocks cast from waste paraffin, in
several sizes, and pin the specimen to them with those T-shaped steel
"map pins" and put it face down in the fixative. You can also use
cardboard or styrofoam. You may need to put a weight on top of the
pinning board. Most specimens need fixing overnight. You can ink
before or after fixation.

Most of the pathology services I've worked in do not have such pinning
arrangements and do not welcome them. Does anyone know what the
Hospital Administrator and Lab Manager's Handy-Dandy Manual for Tying
the Pathologist in Knots has to say about them? (The top-secret book
they all have in their desk drawers.)

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN