Breast - Routine

Breast -  Routine Surgical Excision

For Needle localizations please refer to the ELM page:  Breast Wire Localization for collection and transport instructions

Lumpectomy

Mastectomy

An excised breast or portion of breast

Collect in the most appropriate sized formalin container

 Routine Breast Excisions   (For Needle Localization procedures, refer to the Breast Wire Localization ELM page)

Specimen should be collected in the operating room

I.1. All specimens must be accompanied by a completed Surgical Pathology Requisition (form PATH_6707_0103).

The following information is required on the requisition, clearly written in ink:
(a) Patient identifiers
(i) patient's first and last name
(ii) unique number
(iii) date of birth
(iv) Ontario Health Insurance Number with version code.
(b) Submitting area identifiers: Hospital site  and the submitting department
(c) Submitting physician's name.
(d) Date of surgery and collection time
(e) Pre- and post-operative presumptive diagnosis.
(f) A brief clinical history.
(g) Specimen information
(i) tissue type (ie. Breast)
(ii) anatomical site (ie. Right side)
(iii) surgical procedure (ie. lumpectomy)

I.2. The specimen container must be labeled. Addressograph labels are preferred, otherwise the following information must be provided, clearly written in ink:
(a) Minimum of 2 Patient identifiers
(i) patient's full name and....
(ii) unique number
(iii) Date of birth

(iv)OHIN
(b) Date of surgery.
(c) Specimen name, anatomic site and surgical procedure, as it is written on the Surgical Pathology requisition.

(d) Time tissue collected and time tissue is placed into formalin

This information must be recorded on the side of the specimen container and not the lid.
If a specimen is known or suspected to contain unique or extreme biohazard (e.g. CJD) the container shall be so marked.

I.3. Routine breast excisions must be placed in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (10%NBF) for fixation. Specimens must be placed in an appropriate sized container with an amount of formalin equal to or greater than fifteen times the volume of tissue.

I.4. Place smaller specimen containers in a biohazard bag. The surgical requisition should be placed in the outer pouch of the biohazard bag.
Larger specimen containers, with their Surgical Pathology requisitions, should be transported in a manner that would facilitate spill containment should the container open during transport.

1.5. Notify the Pathology department (ext 2460/2456) that a breast is on route to the Pathology Department ( Note: all breast specimens are to come to the lab immediately with the exception of reductions and implants. Reduction and Implant specimens may be left with other specimens for routine pickup ( in formalin) 

I.6. Transport the specimen container(s) to the Grossing Room in the Department of Anatomical Pathology Room C6.614

I.7. Inform histology staff that you have delivered a specimen(s) and document specimen, name and time on the Pathology Specimen Receipt Log.

1.8 Pathology staff will notify the OR once they received the specimen

I.9. After hours: Notify Triage staff member that you have dropped off a specimen. Breast specimens are not to remain in the OR holding area for the following day ( exception - reductions and implants)

Monday to Friday

Transport to the lab ASAP