Specimen Information

Tissue must be submitted fresh. Transport must be expedited, wrapped in saline soaked gauze and placed on ice. Call Surgical Pathology office for instructions 847-3566 or 847-9445 during normal working hours. Between 5 pm and 8 am Mon-Fri. or on weekends and holidays the pathology resident on-call must be notified before the sample is collected (beeper 121-9585). Please take specimen to Central Receiving and hand to lab staff, DO NOT leave sample unattended. DO NOT put sample in the refrigerator or in any other location. It is very important that a resident is notified after hours if a frozen section is to be done.
 

General Information:  A label identifying the patient and nature of the specimen should be affixed to the body of the specimen container(s). A completed Surgical Pathology Epic order must accompany the container(s).  Information on the requisition should include a brief clinical history and diagnosis, identification of each site (including side of the body) from which the specimen(s) is/are taken, room number and Operating Room telephone number in room, and if patient is awake.  A STAT/Red Hot sticker, supply #034573, noting that this is a STAT frozen section should be placed visibly on container or outside wrapping.

Hours:  Specimens are walked to the Surgical Pathology frozen room, East Pavilion-2-144, between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

On weekends and holidays, specimens must be taken immediately to Specimen Receiving (East Pavilion 1-100). 

Epic Orders: The Epic order must be initialed and time stamped by someone in Specimen Receiving.  It may be desirable to submit small specimens in normal saline or on saline-soaked gauze to prevent drying. After 5:00 pm Monday – Friday or on Weekends & Holidays: The pathology resident on call (beeper 121-9585 or Provider Access Service, (802)847-2700), must be notified ahead of time of the need for a frozen section.  Information to be communicated must include expected time of delivery to the lab (please take specimen immediately to Laboratory Specimen Receiving and give to lab personnel).