Histology Department Information

Anatomical Histopathology operates Monday to Friday 0800-1700

Histology

Anatomical Pathology receives Histology specimens from both hospital and community patients for the entire Hawkes Bay region. Histology services are also provided for the National Bowel Screening Program. Routine Histology testing is performed onsite.

• Samples and request forms need to be labelled with patient name, NHI, and DOB. Request forms must state specimen type, specimen site and relevant clinical details for reason of testing. Failure to provide these details may result in delayed processing of specimens. The requesting clinician must sign the request form. Please ensure current up to date BRADMA labels are used on the request forms to ensure results are reported to the correct clinician.
• Specimens for routine histology should be sent to the laboratory in a large enough container to hold at least 5 times the volume of the specimen, 5:1 ratio of formalin to specimen. The container needs to be labelled with all patient details and site of specimen. Specimen containers are to be tightly sealed to avoid leakages.
• For return to patient service, see below.
• Cytology and Gynae specimens are processed by SCL Dunedin. Please contact SCL Dunedin for results 03 477 6981

Formalin Hazard Labels

Formalin is a known carcinogenic, and must be handled with appropriate PPE. Nitrile gloves, safety glasses/face shield, gown and in a well ventilated area.

Acutely toxic, irritant to skin, eyes, respiratory, known carcinogen and mutagen, causes damage to organs. See SDS for further information.

If there is a formalin spill contact *7777 and evacuate the area immediately.

Cytology

Cytology samples are to be sent fresh and urgently to the laboratory. All cytology samples are processed by SCL Dunedin. Histology is responsible for the addition of CytoRich Red and transporting the specimen.

If a sample is required to be split for testing, ensure all tests are written on the request from clearly. Once CytoRich Red has been added to a sample, no other testing can be completed.

Contact SCL Dunedin for enquiries and results for cytology specimens 03 477 6981

Cytogenetics

Cytogenetics testing is completed by Wellington Regional Genetics Laboratory. WRGL offers tissue culture, karyotyping, QF-PCR, DNA extraction and frozen sample storage for postnatal and post mortem tissue samples where chromosomal or genetic abnormalities are suspected (http://www.wellingtongenetics.co.nz/). Hastings Hospital laboratory is responsible for transporting the specimen to WRGL.

For any sample requiring cytogenetic studies please clearly write on the request form the gestational age, site of biopsy, and "Cytogenetics Testing". Send the sample immediately to the laboratory. If the sample is also requiring routine histology, ensure a sample for cytogenetics is taken before any formalin is added. If further information is required please contact the Histology department or contact Wellington Regional Genetics Laboratory 04 918 6967.

The laboratory staff are not responsible for taking a biopsy for cytogenetics. This is to be completed by the requesting clinician.

For Tissue Karyotype/Cytogenetic studies sample requirements are:

Miscarriage (<20 weeks): Products of Conception including Chorionic villi, fetal limb, umbilical cord, collected in a sterile yellow lid container. Add sterile saline if transport is likely to delayed.

IUD, Stillbirth, perinatal death (>20weeks), Other:

Skin – 1 cm full thickness, cartilage, spleen, umbilical cord (1 cm from near site on insertion). Place in sterile yellow lid container.  Add sterile saline if transport is likely to delayed.

Note: these samples must be unfixed

Frozen Sections

The Histology department needs to be notified before a frozen section sample can be sent up. The requesting clinician needs to discuss the case with the pathologist directly before proceeding. Contact 2636 to be referred to the relevant pathologist. Inform the pathologist what time the sample is expected to be taken.

The sample needs to be sent urgently with an orderly directly to the histology department, ensure this does not go to the main laboratory reception. Phone Histology on 2636 when the specimen is on its way to the laboratory.

Immunofluorescence

If Immunofluorescence studies are required a separate tissue portion should be put into Michel's medium (available on request from the histology department) and a separate biopsy needs to be submitted in formalin.

The samples ideally should be taken from the same site.

Immunofluorescence samples are processed by Medlab Central in Palmerston North. Histology is responsible for transporting the specimen.

Lymphoma/Surface Markers

Please notify the histology laboratory that a procedure is planned for a fresh lymph node biopsy for query lymphoma. This needs to be discussed with the relevant pathologist before proceeding.

The sample needs to be sent urgently via an orderly, in a sterile container with no media added, to the histology laboratory. If sample is also for microbiology, please clearly write this on the request form.

Phone the laboratory on EXT 2684 when the sample has been sent.

Muscle Biopsy

Muscle biopsies are to be pre-arranged with the histology laboratory before proceeding. Muscle biopsies are sent urgently on a same day flight to LabPlus in Auckland. This requires pre-arranged couriers and flight bookings.

Muscle biopsies should not be completed on a Friday.

The case is to be discussed with a pathologist at LabPlus prior to biopsy: 09 3074949 EXT 23103 or Histopathologist Dr Clinton Turner 09 307 4949 EXT 22084.

The specimen needs to arrive at LabPlus before 4pm. This requires the biopsy to be completed as early as possible ie. first on surgical list. After collection the sample is to be sent urgently with an orderly to the histology laboratory.

Sample Requirements: The sample should be non-traumatised, un-injected, not diathermed muscle from an affected muscle group, preferably quadriceps, triceps, or biceps. Adult specimens should measure at least 12 x 8 x 8mm, Paediatric samples should measure at least 7 x 5 x 5mm. The sample then needs to be placed on saline soaked gauze (not into saline) and in a sterile container.

Please see LabPlus Compliance & CE - MediaLab, Inc. for further information.

Tissue Return To Patient Services (RTP)

For any sample requiring return to patient services, Ensure the specimen container and request form is labelled with Return to Patient red stickers. Fill in the Body Parts / Bodily Substances Return Form - Section 1.

Send the filled in request form with the Body Parts / Bodily Substances Return Form and specimen to the laboratory for processing.

Patient is to contact the laboratory 7 days after the sample has been processed to arrange a date/time for collection.

Results & General Enquiries

Results are not given out over the phone. Please contact the Admin team for results.

For technical queries/laboratory: Ext 2636 or 2684

Admin and reports: Ext 2644

Email: histology@hbdhb.govt.nz

Head of Department: Maureen Ali Ext 2485

Pathologists:

Dr Lesley Joblin Ext 2647

Dr David Palmer Ext 2599

Dr Adrian Ormsby Ext 2685