Histology Laboratory > Referring Veterinarians
Services Offered by the Histopathology Lab
Sample Submissions
Routine Surgical Pathology
- Biopsy and masses with surgical margins
- Liver Pathology – Dr. John Cullen
- Immunohistochemistry
- Dermatopathology - Dr. Keith Linder
- Histopathology of formalin fixed necropsy tissues are accepted. Gross necropsies are not performed on referral cases
Surgical Pathology Form - HERE
- Current prices for services are included on the form
- Please provide a brief patient history/differentials and description of the tissue on the submission form.
Specimen Submission Guidelines
- Specimens should be submitted in 10% neutral buffered formalin in wide-mouthed, leak and shatter proof containers. The volume ratio of tissue to formalin must be at least 1:10 for proper fixation.
Inadequate volumes of fixative or attempting to fix large specimens (whole kidney, large mass) will result in incomplete fixation, autolysis, and will delay processing of the sample. Formalin penetrates tissue at roughly 15 mm per day and the rate of penetration slows with the thickness of the tissue. Optimal pathology results are impossible without proper fixation and some immunohistochemical tests may be erroneous.
- Containers must be labeled with names of the veterinarian, owner, and animal. If multiple samples are submitted from one animal, each tissue should be submitted in a separate container and labeled appropriately
- For margins check on mass excisions, please identify margins with sutures or a tissue ink and specify on submission form locations of each.
Special stains if needed are included in the price of the original submission. If your case can benefit from ancillary immunohistochemistry testing, it will be recommended in the report. You may call Histology, 919 513-6390 to authorize the additional testing.
Tissues allowed to fix for 24 hour in appropriate amounts of formalin may be submitted in reduced amounts of fixative, decreasing the size and weight of the container and shipping requirements.
Reports will be faxed or e-mailed (your preference) to your clinic. We do not send reports to owners.
- Shipping Address -
N C State Surgical Pathology Service
College of Veterinary Medicine
NC State University
1060 William Moore Drive, C-310
Raleigh, NC 27607
- Shipping of samples -
All responsibility for shipping compliance rests with the individual sending the package. Samples should always be “double bagged” with absorbent material for shipping.
For local clients, samples may also be hand delivered to the admissions desk at the Small Animal Hospital.
Second Opinion Requests
- If you would like a second opinion on a biopsy from another laboratory or if one of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital services requests you send slides for a second opinion, please fill out the form below and fax to 919 513-6703.
- Please let us know which lab is sending the slides and sign the authorization to bill your facility for the second opinion.
- If your client is willing to pay for additional testing, please also indicate that immunohistochemistry is approved. A report will be sent back to you and to the VTH service if desired.
- Slides sent without authorization for payment will not be read.
Second Opinion Requests Form - HERE