Anatomic Pathology in Minnesota

Histology and Specimen Processing

The Histology Laboratory has gained a reputation for preparing excellent paraffin-embedded, hematoxylin and eosin stained sections as well as special stained sections. The Histology Laboratory processes over 240,000 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks per year and over 800,000 slides!

A wide-range of specimens are handled in the laboratory including bone marrow biopsies, surgical resections and biopsies, dermatology biopsies, tissue obtained at autopsy, outside blocks sent in consultation and a wide variety of research specimens.

Specimen Processing

Specimen Processing accessions approximately 20,000 specimens a month. A wide variety of specimens are accessioned each day. Specimens received include material from outside institutions, Mayo Clinic patients and for research studies. Specimens received from outside institutions account for 60 percent of the laboratory accessioning volume.

The technicians in Specimen Processing are responsible for the upfront handling of incoming specimens. They are crucial to eliminating errors by ensuring the correct material and patient information is received along with verifying that the correct tests are ordered and performed. The technicians often have to contact the performing floor or outside institution to accomplish this.

Specimen Processing is also responsible for sending slides that are cut and stained in the Histology laboratory to the appropriate pathologist or research investigator.

Specimen Processing works closely with pathologists, secretaries and several laboratories including Cytology, Histology, Immunostains, Renal and Hematology.

D. J. Lager, M.D., Medical Director, Specimen Processing
S.M. Mowbray, MT,(ASCP), Supervisor, Specimen Processing

S.O. Sanderson, M.D., Medical Director, Histology
E. Martinez, BS, HTL (ASCP), Supervisor, Histology