Rejection-Histopathology

Sample rejection

1. In most cases, tissue biopsies or resections obtained for histopathological examination are considered precious and may be unique. 

2. Understandably, it might not be possible to repeat the collection of the specimen.

3. Rejection of such specimens cause unacceptable compromise in patient care. 

4. Therefore, the lab will exhaust all attempts to correct any "unacceptability" before any specimen is rejected.

Common issues encountered during specimen analysis include:

1. Unlabelled specimens

2. Inadequately labelled specimens

3. Improperly labelled specimens

4. Request form with no specimen

5. Specimen arriving without a request form

6. Unique identifiers on the specimen and requisition do not match

7. Specimens whose special handling requirements are not met, i.e. frozen 

8. Complex resection specimens lacking orientation tag, or discrepancy in documented tags versus actual specimen anatomy.

With this in mind:

1. It is the responsibility of the requesting Doctor to ensure pre-analytical errors such as mistakes in specimen labelling, such as patient identity, location/laterality of specimen and other clerical errors do not occur. 

2. When an unacceptable, unlabelled or mislabelled specimen has been received, the laboratory will not label or proceed to analyse the specimen.

3. If specimen orientation is in doubt, the laboratory may delay dissection of the specimen until the doubt is resolved.

4. The histopathology laboratory will contact the requesting doctor and inform him/her of any incidents. 

5. The specimen and request form will be held in a safe place for investigation and potential resolution.

6. Delays in issuing a report might occur if any such incidents occur.