Pre-testing Requirements
Pre-Testing Requirements - this test must be pre-booked (24 hours prior) with the lab via ext 80594.
See Additional Specimen Information below for specimen requirements.
Additional Specimen Information
Pre-Testing Requirements - this test must be pre-booked (minimum 24 hours prior) with the lab via ext 80594.
Needling/core biopsies of muscle will not be accepted for processing.
No anaesthetic can be present at the site of biopsy. To avoid local anaesthetic artifacts, the anaesthetic should be injected into the skin and subcutaneous tissue, not directly into the underlying muscle.
Only ONE specimen is required for complete examination (i.e. Routine Processing, Histochemistry and Electron Microscopy).
The skeletal muscle specimen should be at least 10x10x10mm and no bigger than 20 mm long x10x10mm with the long axis running with the length of the muscle fibres, no fascia. The fresh muscle should be laid (not tied or sutured) onto a tongue depressor then wrapped in saline soaked gauze. Do not submerge in saline or formalin. Send immediately to the Histology laboratory, as for frozen sectioning, with a completed pathology request form.
For Paediatric Specimens - Fresh sample of skeletal muscle minimum 10x5x5 mm is sufficient.
