Pathology Handbook

 New search
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # ALL

Anatomical Pathology Shared Specimen Procedures

Alternative Names:Shared Specimens (Micro & Anat Path)
Laboratory:Anatomical Pathology
Test Code:Shared
Medicare rebatable:No
Registration Instructions:

NORMAL HOURS

SPECIMEN

HANDLING

ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY SPECIMENS

Specimens marked “Urgent”

Deliver to AP Urgently

Fresh tissue marked for Frozen section

Deliver to AP Urgently

Specimen for Immunofluorescence

Deliver to AP Urgently

CSF for Cytology

Deliver to AP Urgently (may be a shared sample )

Other Fresh tissue (i.e. not in formalin)

Deliver to AP as a Priority

Other Cytology specimens (fluids, sputum etc)

For delivery by Internal Courier

Blood specimens (Autoantibodies)

For delivery by Internal Courier

Formalin fixed & All other specimens

For delivery by Internal Courier

MICROBIOLOGY SPECIMENS

Specimens to be shared

Deliver to micro Urgently

Urgent specimens

Deliver to micro Urgently

All other specimens

For delivery by CSP & micro staff

 

AFTER HOURS

SPECIMEN

HANDLING

ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY SPECIMENS

Sample marked Urgent

CSP to Contact On-Call Anatomical Pathologist

Fresh tissue marked for Frozen section

CSP to Contact On-Call Anatomical Pathologist

Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box as interim

Specimen for Immunofluorescence

Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box

CSF for Cytology (if Microbiology staffed)

Deliver to micro urgently. Micro will cytospin

CSF for cytology (if microbiology closed)

If shared specimen: Micro Room Temp. racks

If Cyto only: Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box

Other Fresh tissue (i.e. not in formalin)

Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box

Other Cytology specimens (fluids, sputum etc)

Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box

Blood specimens (AP Autoantibodies))

Centrifuge and Fridge 2-8° C

Anat Path box

Formalin fixed

Room temp- Anat Path box

If in doubt about the urgency or handling of a specimen

Contact On-Call Anatomical Pathologist

(Avoid calls between 10pm and 7am)

Fridge 2-8° C Anat Path box as interim

MICROBIOLOGY SPECIMENS

Blood Cultures/Paediatric Cultures

Incubator 

 

 

Blood Pack Cells

Micro Room Temp. racks

HIV Viral Load/ HIVVGM

Micro Room Temp. racks

Quanitferon

Micro Room Temp. racks

Spinal Fluid (CSF)

Micro Room Temp. racks

Swabs

Micro Room Temp. racks

AFB Blood cultures

Micro Room Temp. racks

 

 

Catheter Tips

Fridge 2-8° C

CMV Viral Load Blood

Fridge 2-8° C

EBVLOAD

Fridge 2-8° C

Faeces

Fridge 2-8° C

Fluids/Aspirates

Fridge 2-8° C

Gono PCR swabs

Fridge 2-8° C

Serology

Fridge 2-8° C

Sputum / BAL

Fridge 2-8° C

Urine

Fridge 2-8° C

VTM’s

Fridge 2-8° C

Fresh tissue

Fridge 2-8° C

 

Specimen Types:See Under Collection Instructions
Container Types:
See Detailed Information
Transport Instructions:See Detailed Information
Processing Instructions:

NORMAL HOURS

Anatomical Pathology Specimens (Tissue, Fluids & Bloods)

Non-Shared Specimen:

i.e. No Microbiology or Immunology requests on the same specimen

Formalin fixed tissue specimens, fresh tissue specimens and cytology specimens: Write up on AP log sheet and deliver to Anatomical Pathology by Internal Courier.

Blood tubes: Blood specimens for autoantibody serology performed in Anatomical Pathology (ANA, ANCA, Adrenal, GPC, Heart, LKM, Mitochondrial, Neuronal, skeletal muscle, striated and smooth muscle) are daybooked and centrifuged before being written up on AP log sheet and delivered by Internal Courier.

Urgent Processing: Any Specimen marked “Urgent” or “Frozen Section” or “Immunofluorescence” and CSF specimens for cytology. These should be delivered to Anatomical Pathology immediately. Call the histology laboratory (extn 62476) to collect if necessary.

 

Shared Specimen with Microbiology: 

i.e. Microbiology request on the same specimen

Cytology Fluids: Deliver whole specimen to Microbiology first.

Tests for micro are daybooked, as well as ‘CYTO’ for specimens unable to be split. Specimen and request are labelled with a “specimen to be shared” sticker. AP receives a copy of the request marked as “Slip Only” (delivered by Internal Courier). It is documented on the AP log sheet.

Fresh Tissue: Deliver whole specimen to Anatomical Pathology first.

Specimen and request are labelled with a “specimen to be shared” sticker. A Pathologist will assess and divide the specimen to provide a sample for Microbiology.The sample for Microbiology will be returned by Anatomical Pathology to CSP for daybooking.

Shared Specimen with Immunology

i.e. Immunology (eg Flowcytometry or AA’s) request on the same specimen

Fresh tissue: Deliver whole specimen to Anatomical Pathology first.

A Pathologist will divide the specimen to provide a sample for Immunology.The sample for Immunology will be returned by Anatomical Pathology to CSP for daybooking.

Blood tubes: Some autoantibody serology is performed in Anatomical Pathology (ANA, ANCA, Adrenal, GPC, Heart, LKM, Mitochondrial, Neuronal, skeletal muscle, striated and smooth muscle). Blood specimens are daybooked and centrifuged before being written up on AP log sheet and delivered by Internal Courier.

Microbiology Specimens

Refer to table.

AFTER HOURS

Anatomical Pathology Specimens

If any specimen received after hours is marked “Urgent” or “Frozen Section” please contact the On-Call Anatomical Pathologist through Switchboard. This should happen rarely; urgent specimens are generally discussed with the Pathologist beforehand (if possible avoid calls between 10 pm and 7 am).

Formalin fixed tissue: After hours store all fixed specimens at room temperature (NB: Do not place formalin specimens in the fridge).

Fresh tissue:  After hours contact the on-call Pathologist or Scientist (NB avoid calls between 10pm to 7am if possible). Store sample in the refrigerator.

Cytology specimens: After hours store in the refrigerator. If a CSF see below;

CSF Specimen:           

Outside Cytology Hours but within Microbiology Hours daybook as CYTO and pass to Microbiology who will prepare the Cytospin smears for Cytology

(NB. Between 5pm and 5:30pm please contact Cytology on Extn 63088 ASAP to advise them a CSF has been received). If notified Cytology will collect and process.

Outside Microbiology Hours daybook as CYTO and store in the refrigerator in the AP box.

 

Shared Specimen with Microbiology:

 i.e. Microbiology request(s) on the same specimen.

Fresh tissue: Treat the same as AP shared specimens in normal hours and store in the refrigerator in the AP box.

CSF Specimen: Store at room temperature in the Micro rack. Tests for micro are daybooked, as well as ‘CYTO’ for specimens unable to be split. Specimen and request are labelled with a “specimen to be shared” sticker. Store CSF specimen at room temperature in the Micro rack. AP receives a copy of the request marked “Slip only” (delivered by Internal Courier). It is documented on the AP log sheet.

 

 Shared Specimen with Immunology:

 i.e. Immunology request(s) on the same specimen (eg request says Flowcytometry, T&B cells, phenotyping, lymphoma) or if blood tubes for autoantibody testing.

Fresh tissue: If specimen arrives after hours contact the On-Call Pathologist (NB avoid calls between 10pm to 7am if possible). Store in refrigerator in the interim.

Blood tube:  Daybook, centrifuge and store in refrigerator.

USEFUL LINKS

 

Frozen Section Booking Form