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Products
- Gross and microscopic examination of biopsies and excision of the skin and nails
- Special stains for fungal and bacterial organisms
- Special stains for structural analysis of dermis and dermal deposits
- Immunohistochemical stains for determination of cellular differentiation and proliferation
- Direct immunofluorescence testing of skin biopsies for immunobullous and connective tissue disorders
- Second opinion consultation on slides for another laboratory
Services
- Access to dermatopathologists for personal consultations
- One-day turnaround time for routine cases
- Courteous and professional service
- Customized reports and report delivery
- Provision of laboratory requisitions, specimen bottles, and specimen packaging materials
- Daily specimen pickup
- Live client services; no automated telephone menus
Specimen Handling & Shipping
These guidelines are established to ensure the appropriate handling and shipping of patient specimens from physician offices to the laboratory, with due consideration given to patient specimen integrity and the personal safety of office, shipping, and laboratory staff.
In general, patient specimens are taken at the physician office in order to determine the presence or absence of malignancy, premalignancy, or inflammatory skin disorders that cannot otherwise be determined. Because these tissue specimens are taken for routine testing not related to the diagnosis of an infectious disease, are not known to contain Category A or B pathogens, and are immersed in formalin fixative to inactivate any pathogens that may have been present, they are classified as “Exempt Human Specimens” and are not subject to the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-80). Specifically, this exception is addressed to 49 CFR Part 173.134, Class 6, Division 6.2(b)(2) and (4).
The specimen label should be filled out with the patient’s name, anatomical specimen site, doctor’s name, and date; it should then be affixed to the specimen container.
The tissue specimen should be placed into the container, which should be at least one-half full of formalin. Large specimens should be completely immersed in formalin. The cap to the specimen container should be screwed securely shut.
The requisition form should be completely filled out, to include all applicable patient demographic and insurance information. A copy of the patient’s insurance card should also be included with the requisition. Health maintenance organization (HMO) policies requiring referrals should have the words “laboratory and/or pathology” included on the orders.
Inform your patient that his or her specimen will be sent to an outside laboratory and that he or she may incur laboratory expenses that are separate from the physician charges. The patient should sign the requisition on the outside open pocket.
Each specimen container and corresponding patient requisition should be placed inside a separate, double pocket biohazard bag, with the specimen container in the inside sealed pocket and the requisition in the outside open pocket.
The biohazard bags containing the specimens and patient requisitions should be placed into the applicable shipping envelope.
Offices that use our local courier, MGS Express, should either hold these envelopes for in-office pickup or place them into the locked specimen dropbox for after-hours pickup. Unscheduled or early pickup requests can be made by calling our office (800-231-0282/734-762-0500) or by contacting MGS Express directly (800-836-5794/313-945-7784).
Offices using United Parcel Service (UPS) as a courier should attach a UPS waybill to the outside of the envelope. UPS shipping charges are paid by HDL. Contact UPS for package pickup (1-800-PICKUPS).
When additional supplies are needed, fill out the supply request form and either fax it to our office (734-762-0530) or place it into the envelope with your specimens.
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