#06-5558 Accrd Manual V7 - COLA

HISTOPATHOLOGY>Specimen Collection and ManagementThe laboratory shall have and must follow policies and procedures for the collection and handling of specimens.837. EAre the preferred methods of tissue specimen submission by clients described?The laboratory should provide written instructions for clients for the submission of tissue specimens, whichindicate if the specimen should be fresh, frozen, or in preservative and the desired preservatives for differentspecimens.838. EIs the laboratory’s accepted method of labeling tissue specimens described?Tissue specimens, like other laboratory specimens, must be labeled with all essential information (see COLAgeneral requirements for specimen labeling) and should include the source of the specimen and the nameof the attending physician.839. EAre the proper methods for handling and transportation of tissue samples described?The laboratory is responsible for developing written policy to define acceptable methods for handling andtransportation of tissue specimens. The following items are suggestions regarding acceptable practices.Tissue specimens should be handled in a sterile manner, placed in a sealed container, preserved in an appropriatemanner and transported in a timely fashion. Fresh specimens should be in normal saline or a tissuetransport medium; frozen specimens should be in a cryo-preservative medium or in isopentane cooled to -40 degrees C.; preserved (fixed) specimens should be in an adequate volume of preservative to ensureappropriate fixation. Specimens should be transported in such a manner as to insure specimen integrity.Are there policies and criteria for:840. EUnacceptable specimens?841. ERejection of specimens?842. ENotification of requesting physician when samples are unacceptable or are rejected?The laboratory examination request form shall contain sufficient information to identify the patient and therequestor, and shall provide pertinent clinical data.843. EIn addition to the general requirements for requisition forms, does the laboratory’s request form indicate thetissue source?844. EDoes the histopathology laboratory meet the general specimen requisition, collection and managementrequirements for COLA accreditation?The laboratory shall be in compliance with all criteria within this subsection as well as COLA general criteriafor Specimen Collection (PRE 10 – PRE 19) and Requisitions (PRE 1 - PRE 9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT COLA PHONE 800.981.9883 | FAX 410.381.8611 | ON-LINE www.cola.org99