[Histonet] Return of Gross Only Specimens for Patient Use

[Cartun, Richard]

I strongly discourage patients from taking their tissue out of the hospital.  Once the specimen in placed in formalin it becomes a bio-hazard.  We will release certain specimens for burial; however, the patient (or family) must contact a funeral home or mortuary to pick-up the specimen, and they must sign a release.

Richard

Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD
Director, Histology & The Martin M. Berman, MD Immunopathology & Morphologic Proteomics Laboratory
Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs
Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
Hartford Hospital
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT  06102
(860) 972-1596
(860) 545-2204 Fax



-----Original Message-----
From: ian bernard via Histonet [mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2017 2:39 PM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Return of Gross Only Specimens for Patient Use

1.       Per a patient request, before returning an amputated digit (toe) to
a patient, we will remove the 10 % NBF from the tissue by washing the tissue
in running water for how long?



2.       As an alternative, we can have the provider submit the gross only
toe in saline and then relinquish the toe to the patient, explaining that ultimate degradation of the toe is inevitable unless fixed. Is there another safe fixative alternative that  can preserve the toe, say 100% alcohol and for how long?  The patient wants to keep his body parts for his burial.



3.       We will have the patient sign a  document explaining the exposure
risk to formalin fixed tissue as well as a release of medical records request form. Your thoughts?



4.       Is there any other validated procedure to remove formalin from
foreign bodies devices or tissue before release to the patient?



Note: The transaction above will take place 2-weeks after the case has been signed out and reported to the referring provider.  Your feedback?





v/r

IB



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