Handling of lung biopsy specimens
| Type of processing | Tissue material used | Processing procedure | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Majority of the sample (about 80%) | 4% Formalin | For wax blocks and staining studies and storage |
| 2 | Several 1–2 mm cuboidal pieces | Glutaraldehyde-buffer | Electron microscopy, esp Sp mutations |
| 3 | 10 to 20% of tissue | Snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, place in −80 freezer | Genetic, biochemical studies, conserve RNA and proteins |
| RNAlater solution | Same as snap frozen, except enzyme activity studies; however, more convenient as can be shipped at room temperature | ||
| 4 | Fresh tissue (can be the remnant on the proximal side of the staple line) | None | Microbiology |
Clearly all necessary clinical samples need to be taken before any is allocated for research.