UF Health Pathology Laboratories Renal Specimen Collection and Handling Tutorial

University of Florida Health Pathology Laboratories' Client Services Department can be reached at:

Toll-free: 888.375.LABS (5227) | Local: 352.265.9900

Visit us online at: pathlabs.ufl.edu

UF Health Pathology Laboratories Renal Specimen Collection and Handling Tutorial

Our dedicated Electron Microscopy Department allows the University of Florida Health Pathology Laboratories to be a frontrunner in diagnostics.

Kidney biopsies allow our nephropathologists to diagnose renal disease, assess prognoses, aid in the selection of a specific therapeutic approach, and monitor disease progression in both native and transplant kidneys.

Each specimen kit is comprised of two fixatives, formalin and Michel's. Also provided are prepaid FedEx return envelopes and labels, which include a Saturday delivery sticker for the occasional Friday send-out. A requisition will be folded and placed on top of the specimen containers inside the kit. Please be sure to follow the included instructions and completely fill out the forms provided.

If a dissecting scope is available once the specimen has been harvested, check the quality of the needle core by looking for glomuleri.The glomuleri will resemble red-pink domes visible throughout the core.

The Submission requirements are as follows:

If you have multiple cores, place a single core in the Michel's medium and the remaining cores in the formalin.

If you have two cores, place one core in formalin and the remaining core in Michel's fixative

If you have a single core greater than 5 mm, remove 1 mm from each end of the needle core and place the two tips in the formalin container. Cut the remaining kidney core in half and place one half into the Michel's solution and the remaining half into the formalin with the two tips.

If you have a single core less than 5 mm or scant tissue, submit one half of the core in the Michel's fixative and the other half in formalin.

When the kit is received in the laboratory, the specimen containers and associated documents are cross-checked to ensure that the materials are labeled with two unique patient identifiers such as a name, date of birth, medical record number, and site. This is a requirement of the College of American Pathologists, the most stringent laboratory accreditation agency. If all of the appropriate criteria have been met, the specimen is accessioned and brought to the gross room to begin processing.

During the grossing process, a portion of the formalin-fixed kidney core is post-fixed in glutaraldehyde for Electron Microscopy. The Michele's portion is submitted to the Immunohistology lab for Histochemistry studies. The remainder of the formalin-fixed specimen is embedded in paraffin and processed for Light Microscopy.

If you have additional questions, please contact our Client Services Department at the number below. Thank you for choosing the University of Florida Health Pathology Laboratories, we look forward to serving your future pathology needs.

Send renal specimens to:

University of Florida Health Pathology Laboratories
Attn.: Accessioning
4800 SW 35th Drive
Gainesville, FL 32608

Our Client Services Department can be reached at:

Toll-free: 888.375.LABS (5227) | Local: 352.265.9900

Visit us online at: pathlabs.ufl.edu