Thanks for your response. After reading your email, I decided that I would have a part of my presentation focus on the detriments due to the poor handling that these medical examiners give their tissues. So I'll be including some mention of the consequences of improper fixation, including your IHC concern. I'm still hoping that someone out there will have had an experience that firmly links histology to the proper resolution of a death investigation case.
Sandra Ellis
In a message dated 10/21/2003 7:33:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, LBlack@carilion.com writes:
Sandra,
The Histology Lab where I work processes ME cases. I believe the specimens are sometimes held at the ME's office for several days/weeks before they are sent to us. We perform these cases as we have time. The specimens still have to be trimmed in to an appropriate size before placing into cassettes. My concern is when immunoperoxidase stains are requested on these cases after a prolonged stay in fixative, a false negative stain may result due to masking of antigenic determinates. For hospital surgical cases, we always have the tissues processed the same day if possible. Even with a weekend holiday, specimens are not held in fixative for longer than 72 hours. Sounds like an interesting job you have. Best wishes.
Lisa Black
Carilion Consolidated Laboratory