Specimen Requirements

Requirements for Specimen Submission

Laboratory Requisition Form

A Histology laboratory request form or other pre-approved test requisition form must be completed with pertinent history, clinical data, special tests requested, and the following information:

  • Patient Name/Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Clinical Information
  • Specimen Source/Site
  • Tests Requested
  • Requesting Physician Name/Address/phone number
  • Facility/Hospital name and identification number
  • Insurance information (hospital admission form)

Specimen Labeling

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has issued instructions for patient sample identification. All specimens (including glass slides) must be labeled with the patient name and at least one of the following second identifiers which are unique to the patient:

  • Date of Birth
  • Facility/Hospital Patient Number
  • Requisition Number
  • Accession/MRN Number

The primary container that holds the specimen should have these two identifiers. Other information, such as gender, source/site, date of procedure, or referring physician should be included, but do not qualify as a second identifier, as these are examples of identifiers that are likely to be shared by two patients on the same day.

*Note: We recommend that the fixative volume should be at least 10 to 15 times greater than the tissue volume. Please chose the appropriate size prefilled fixative vial according to size of biopsy

Billing Information:

  • Institutional billing-contract billing set up with UT Health San Antonio Histology Laboratory.
  • Patient Insurance billing (must include patient insurance billing information)

Causes for Delay in Results

Processing Delay’s

The following specimen discrepancies may result in the specimen being held until confirmation via telephone, email, or fax can be made:

  • Missing prudent information on requisition (ie Clinician Name, Date of Service).
  • Specimen source/type is different from container to requisition.
  • Specimen received without an adequate requisition (electronic or paper).
  • Empty bottles received
  • Specimens received in an inappropriate fixative (i.e. tissue in SurePath fixative, tissue in saline with no special testing request, etc.)
  • Different names on requisitions vs. patient demographic or billing information
  • Use of a NON-STRL requisition

Rejection/Return of Specimen Causes

In rare circumstances, a specimen may be returned to the clinician. It is likely that a specimen will be returned for the following reason:

  • Patient name on the requisition and specimen do NOT match.
  • Less than two patient identifiers on the specimen container or glass slides.
  • Containers which have leaked enough to possibly compromise or lose the specimen.
  • Slides received broken beyond repair.
  • Specimens received in a condition judged to be biohazardous: fluids in open containers or syringes with needles attached.

Transportation of Specimen

If set pick-up and delivery times have not been established with the client then, contact Client Services to schedule pick up times:

  Phone #- (210)567-6599

The specimen should be sent as soon as possible to:

UT Health San Antonio
Histopathology-Room 344B
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.