When I was working at a large community hospital in the South, all placentas
were examined. For placentas of routine births an "embed & hold" was done.
Briefly, this consisted of doing a gross exam, cutting in 2-3 blocks,
processing these, & embedding the blocks. These blocks were not cut unless a
physician called & requested it.  For non-routine births, the placentas were
grossed, cut, processed, sectioned & stained. We rarely froze any tissue.
Usually the placenta would be examined in a group once or twice a week. They
were held in formalin in a fridge until examined. This type of placenta
service sure seemed to make the ob/gyn types very happy.

Patti Loykasek
PhenoPath Laboratories











> Jennifer McDonald asks about placenta.
> We routinely exam every placenta from every baby born at out Children's
> & Woman's hospital. Normal placenta receive "gross only" treatment of
> weights, dimensions and description.
> Abnormal history or findings trigger a "gross in" of four blocks
> containing proximal, medial and distal cord, membranes, full thickness
> and sample of any pathological areas found. Abnormal history includes
> history of premature birth, abruption, history of more than one
> spontaneous abortion, overweight baby, etc, etc.
> I think examining placenta is now pretty much the standard of care.
> OBGYN people like documentation of placenta from problem births in case
> a case goes to court
> 
> Mike Titford
> USA Pathology
> Mobile AL USA.
> 
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