Combined Surgical and Dermatohistopathology Submissions:

• The combined surgical and dermatohistopathology examination is discontinued. If skin biopsies and a surgical submission are submitted together, these will be treated as two separate submissions - 2 accessioning numbers will be assigned, 2 pathologists will review the case and 2 different charges will apply, one for the dermatohistopathology evaluation and one for the surgical evaluation.

Packaging Samples:

• Place your submission form in a separate plastic bag to prevent soiling of the form by the sample or the formalin. Do not put the submission form inside the bag with the samples.

• Provide absorbent material for samples containing formalin and try to make the container as leak proof as possible, without the excessive use of adhesive products. Note: Parafilm® is preferred.

• When sending samples during cold weather (<0° C), first completely fix the tissue in formalin (minimum 24 hours; will vary depending on the thickness of the tissue), and then place into 70% alcohol for transport. Note: Rubbing alcohol contains 70% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol.

• There are now two levels of charges for surgical submissions—will depend on the number and/or the size of the submissions:

  Biopsy - Surgical - Up to 3 Tissues fee will apply if you are submitting up to 3 tissues AND if the single or multiple (up to 3) tissues ‘fit’ into the 6 x 6 cm grid.

  Biopsy - Surgical - > 3 or a single mass > 2 cm dia. fee will apply if you are submitting 4 or more tissues OR if the base of any of your submitted tissues (single or combined) exceeds the 6 x 6 cm grid.

• For full-thickness and endoscopic gastrointestinal biopsies, the Biopsy - Gastrointestinal - Up to 3 Tissues fee will apply when biopsies are collected from 3 or less sites and the Biopsy - Gastrointestinal - >3 Tissues will apply when 4 or more sites are sampled.

See Instructions for Dermatohistopathology Service at PDS for additional information (see link at top of this page).