Send all specimens either in Michel's Transport Medium OR urgently, fresh on saline soaked gauze.
If sending fresh (from within the ADHB or other DHB's/medical centre's/laboratories) - The specimen MUST be received by the lab no later than 4pm Monday - Friday. Do NOT send fresh specimens over the weekend.
Specimens for DIFL sent together with tissue for paraffin processing, such as native renal biopsies and some skin biopsies, are placed on hold until requested by the Pathologist reviewing the paraffin block material. Specimens for DIFL only investigations are usually processed the following day after receipt in the lab.
SKIN BIOPSIES FOR IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE
Skin biopsies may be for paraffin processing and/or for immunofluorescence only. Submit tissue for immunofluorescence in Michels Transport Medium with a separate biopsy in formalin for routine Histology.
MTM is available from the laboratory on request.
Whether sending fresh or in transport medium and regardless from where the specimen has been sent, please phone the lab on extension 6120 and inform them that a specimen for DIFL is on the way. This allows the lab to track the specimen and get in touch with the sender should the specimen not arrive in the lab in a timely fashion
CONJUCTIVAL AND ORAL MUCOSAL BIOPSIES FOR IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE
For investigation of suspected ocular cicatricial pemphigoid/mucous membrane pemphigoid. Submit tissue for immunofluorescence fresh with a separate biopsy in formalin for routine Histology
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| DIFL for ocp guidelines for labplus test guide |
In ocular-only MMP, half of the patients with conjunctival disease typical of MMP have had intermittent or repeatedly negative DIF (Ong 2014). In 2022 and audit at LabPlus suggested the sensitivity of DIFL may be much lower.
References:
Chan LS, Ahmed AR, Anhalt GJ, Bernauer W, Cooper KD, Elder MJ et al. The First International Consensus on Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: Definition, Diagnostic Criteria, Pathogenic Factors, Medical Treatment, and Prognostic Indicators. Arch Dermatol 2022 Mar 1 Available from:
http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/archderm.138.3.370
Ong HS, Setterfield JF, Minassian DC, Dart JK, Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Study Group 2009-2014. Mucous membrane pemphigoid with ocular involvement: the clinical phenotype and its relationship to direct immunofluorescence findings. Opthalmology 2018;4;496e504
TAT
for
urgents is 3 to 5 days. Non-urgents
(
>90%
) are
reported within 10 working days however it should be noted that TAT is governed by the complexity of the specimen and any additional testing required which may extend the TAT to greater than 10 days.
Urgent Reports
Results may be available earlier if the clinical situation warrants this, through consultation with the on-call Histopathologist. Clinical staff to whom the results are to be communicated should be specified with locator and/or extension numbers.
The laboratory can be contacted on ext 22091 and the Cut-Up room on ext 22090. The Histopathologists can be contacted via LabLink on ext 22000 or directly by following the link below.
For all Office enquiries please contact ext. 22089
Information regarding surgical pathology reports is available through LabLink on ext 22000. Cases requiring further discussion, preliminary reports and frozen section results will be communicated by telephone from laboratory medical staff (Pathologist or Registrar) to clinical medical staff.
Laboratory Hours are Monday to Friday between the hours of 0800 and 1700. During this time Histology offers a full service.
Please see section 'Specimen Collection'