Sending Specimens
(Slides or Tissues fixed in formalin only)
NOTE: Only slides or formalin-fixed tissues
should be referred for evaluation.

These instructions may be given to your caregiver, your surgeon, or the local hospital or diagnostic laboratory at the time of your D & C.

If your loss is recent (within a month) as soon as you think you might want a consult, it would be best for you to contact the laboratory to which your tissues were originally sent and ask them to not discard any tissues left over from that lab's own sampling.

We request to receive all the samples that are not required for other testing, such as chromosome counts ("karyotyping"). The specimen can be dissected by your surgeon and split for the two laboratory tests (tissue study and chromosome counts). Some cytogenetics laboratories (where chromosomes are counted) can select their own sample from the tissues, then place the remainder of the tissue in formalin and forward it to our office. If you wish to send a placenta, we request the whole placenta, including disk, membranes and cord. We require all tissues sent to EarlyPath to be preserved in formalin, a fixative that is very good at maintaining tissue integrity so that we can "see" the tissues much as they were inside your body. Once tissues are placed in formalin, no chromosome studying or microbiological cultures can be taken (formalin preserves or "fixes" cells, but does not allow them to grow). You need to be certain all the laboratory testing you have planned has their appropriate samples BEFORE placing tissues in formalin.

PLEASE include the following demographic information: full name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number and contact information for your primary OB-GYN. This information will allow us to create a confidential medical record for you. WE CANNOT PROCESS YOUR SPECIMEN UNTIL WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION.

Please ask your caregiver or the laboratory to make certain that the container is properly packaged for shipping. Glass containers are easily broken (and yes, we have received one case in a shattered glass jar). Plastic containers should be taped shut, placed within tied or otherwise closed plastic bags, and cushioned with packing material in a protective container. Please note: if you are passing tissue at home you may collect all materials passed in a clean container (be sure to rinse the container completely to ensure there is no remaining soap residue). Ask your doctor or a local laboratory if they can place your tissues into an appropriate container with formalin preservative. Tissues should be fixed as soon as possible in order to insure that they are preserved in a state that is most representative of your pregnancy's intrauterine environment.

Please call our office for instructions for the collection and transport of your specimen specific to your situation.

This specimen is your one chance to gain information that will help understand cause of it's complication, and hopefully help protect your future pregnancies. We are happy to help you prepare it properly.

Once arrangements are made, tissue samples may be sent to:

Dr. Carolyn Salafia
EarlyPath Pathology Services
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 10th floor
St Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital
1000 10th Avenue
New York New York 10019
Phone: (212) 523-7733
Fax: (212) 523-8066

EarlyPath is licensed by the New York State Department of Health (PFI 7931, Code 5929A060, CLIA 33D0978205) as a laboratory site in Histopathology.

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