Specimen Collection & Transport
Surgical Pathology Instructions
Surgical pathology examinations are performed to guide treatment decisions and diagnose disease by examining tissue samples removed during routine surgical procedures. This diagnostic information is crucial for surgeons and other healthcare professionals in developing appropriate treatment plans.
Most specimens removed during surgery must be submitted to Surgical Pathology for microscopic and/or examination. This includes major surgeries performed within the hospital, ambulatory surgery, or surgical suites and minor surgeries performed in outpatient clinics or hospital units.
The best value for the patient is achieved when the treating physician provides pertinent clinical information, the surgeon removes an adequate specimen, and the local pathology laboratory packs the specimen properly and ships it promptly.
Specimen Collection & Transport
Overview
Whenever possible, biopsies should be scheduled Monday–Thursday.
If the biopsy must be performed on a Friday, or if the specimen is originating from outside the continental United States, ask the local pathology laboratory to contact the Surgical Pathology Desk for additional information.
Surgical pathology examinations are performed to guide treatment decisions and diagnose disease by examining tissue samples removed during routine surgical procedures. This diagnostic information is crucial for surgeons and other healthcare professionals in developing appropriate treatment plans.
Most specimens removed during surgery must be submitted to Surgical Pathology for microscopic and/or examination. This includes major surgeries performed within the hospital, ambulatory surgery, or surgical suites and minor surgeries performed in outpatient clinics or hospital units.
Requisition
Prior to requesting a biopsy, the treating physician should obtain and complete a Surgical Pathology Requisition.
Fill the form out completely and provide it to the surgeon prior to the date of surgery.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen should be representative of the disease process that is needed for diagnosis.
All specimen parts should be labeled with two of the three patient identifiers:
1. Patient Name
2. Date of Birth
3. MRN
4. Social Security Number
All pertinent clinical information should be included on the requisition
A completed Surgical Pathology Requisition should accompany the specimen.
Specimens that do not require special handling should be placed in 10-percent neutral buffered formalin.
Use adequately sized containers to allow a formalin:specimen ratio of at least 10:1 whenever possible.
Please ensure that the container is closed securely.
Shipping Preparation
Fresh specimens should be shipped for arrival in our laboratory prior to 5 p.m. by same day or overnight courier service.
Contact the Surgical Pathology Desk to alert the lab for any case expected to arrive on a Saturday.
Place specimen containers in a sealable biohazard plastic bag with an absorbent pad.
Place the completed requisition and specimen bag into a shipping container.
Affix a shipping label containing the following address information to the shipping container.
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
L15 – Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
2119 E 93rd Street
Cleveland, OH 44106
Laboratory Contact Information
Contact the Surgical Pathology Desk for technical issues or any handling and shipping questions.