Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy Service

1. Collection and Handling: Specimens should be procured using accepted surgical techniques. Because of the small size of most oral specimens it is especially important to avoid inducing crushing artifact through the injudicious use of clamps or forceps. Placement of a suture in the specimen prior to removal will allow for handling without damage. Use of electrosurgical instruments for the removal of small, delicate specimens should be avoided because of the possibility of heat damage and distortion. In some cases, physical damage to a critical area of a specimen may render it inadequate for diagnosis and a comment to that affect will be made in the pathology report.
2. Labeling: Specimen containers and lab requisitions must be labeled with the full name of the patient and the submitting doctor and date the specimen was collected. If an improperly labeled specimen is received by the laboratory, a reasonable attempt will be made to confirm its identification. To expedite service, all pertinent areas of the lab requisition should be completed. If some information is not available, please state this on the requisition. Inadequately identified specimens will not be accepted for processing.
3. Fixation: Specimens should be fixed in the buffered formalin solution supplied free of charge, by our laboratory. Specimen volume should not exceed 10% of the fixative volume. Larger specimens should be divided and submitted in multiple containers. Over time the fixative may evaporate from stored specimen containers. These should be discarded or returned to this laboratory for refilling, because the fixative cannot be reconstituted. Biopsy kits, which include UPS prepaid shipping labels, lab packs, specimen bottles with fixative, and lab requisition forms are available free of charge.
4. Transportation: Transportation of your specimen using your UPS prepaid mailing label and lab packs is the preferred way to send your specimens. You can call UPS to arrange pickup of your specimen or place them it a UPS drop box. Specimens may also be sent to us using US mail but this can delay the delivery of your package and the possibility of it being lost in the mail without any tracking capability. Specimens can also be hand-carried to the laboratory. Please call 1-800-358-1011 to coordinate hand delivery if you or your patient would like drop off a specimen.

5. Specimens Submitted in Zeus/Michel’s Solution for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) studies:

   1. Tissue must be placed in Zeus/Michel's solution
      • Keep solution refrigerated until needed
      • Do not freeze tissue or solution
   2. Tissue must reach our laboratory within 72 hours of the biopsy
      • Please use our 2 day UPS label & lab pack for sending your specimen to us
   3. In addition, please submit a separate tissue specimen in formalin for conventional H&E histology

   Please use our 2-day UPS label & lab pack for sending your specimen to us.

Submission during the winter months

Specimens sent during the winter months (December through March): The following procedure should be used in order to avoid freeze damage to specimens in transit to the laboratory.

1. Fix specimen in formalin solution for 24 hours.
2. Decant formalin and replace with 70% alcohol prior to mailing. Ethyl alcohol is preferred but methyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol is acceptable following formalin fixation. Please note, formalin is a hazardous waste and must be handled as such.

Adherence to the above procedures will insure expeditious handling and optimum quality of biopsy specimens. We look forward to serving you and your patients.