The preliminary diagnosis is called if final results are not available within 24 hours. Final reports are faxed and final copies are mailed. Call today to inquire about electronic ordering and resulting options.

Steps for sending a renal biopsy specimen:

  1. Ordering supplies

  2. Download the Renal Pathology Requisition

    Required: Fax requisition form, billing information and history form prior to shipping to 319-384-7213.

    Download Requisition

  3. Distribution of Specimen for Light Microscopy (LM), Electron Microscopy (EM) and Immunofluorescence (IF):
    Two cores of tissue

    Diagram showing distribution of specimen for LM, EM, IF

    Electron Microscopy (EM) Specimen

    • Place the 2, 1-2 mm cut pieces of kidney biopsy (cut from each end of a core) in the vial containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde fixative.
    • Label with patient name, unique patient id# or date of birth and collection date.
    • Be sure to wash off any excess fixative on the end of the blade with saline before touching the blade to another biopsy core.

    Immunofluorescence (IF)

    • Place the remaining the cut core in Michel's Transport Media or Immunoflourescence.
    • Label with patient name, unique patient id# or date of birth and collection date.

    Light Microscopy (LM)

    • Place one remaining core in the vial of 10% buffered formalin. For a two-croe protocol, place the larger core in formalin.
    • Label with patient name, unique patient id# or date of birth and collection date.
    • Be sure to wash off any excess fixative on the end of the blade with saline before touching the blade to another biopsy core.

    Note: If cores are of greatly differing lengths, take two 1 mm segments from each end of larger core for EM. Place smallest core (of the two after EM tissue removed) in Michel’s fixative and place largest core in formalin.

    How to maximize your success in identifying glomeruli:
    Place the tissue core on a glass slide and view with an ordinary microscope with 4X (occasionally 10X objective can be helpful but not really necessary). I find this much better than a dissecting microscope. Glomeruli will be seen as in figure below. One can also easily identify connective tissue and medulla.

    Glomeruli described by the text above

  4. Specimen packaging

    FedEx packaging guidelines for UN3373 shipments apply to the transport of a renal biopsy to UIDL. Anyone shipping a renal biopsy should be aware of all applicable guidelines and regulations. Senders are solely responsible for compliance. See www.fedex.com for details.

    • Label containers with "Formaldehyde precaution".
    • Use the 95kPa Specimen Transport Bag for the specimen containers with the requisition in the outside pocket of the bag.
    • Place the double-bagged specimen into a box with adequate absorbent material in case of leakage.
    • Securely seal the shipping container.
    • Indicate on the exterior of the box "Formaldehyde Caution" and/or "Glutaraldehyde Precaution".
    • Ship at ambient temperature. Do not freeze.
    • Complimentary first overnight shipping via FedEx should ensure receipt in UIDL by 8 am CST M-F and same day results. Specimens are also received on the weekend with STAT services available.

    Note regarding Saturday deliveries:
    Mark airbill for Saturday Delivery and Priority Overnight and affix “SDR” label on the outside of FedEx ClinPak to ensure proper delivery. Saturday deliveries not properly marked will not be delivered until Monday or later.

    Shipping address:
    University of Iowa Diagnostic Laboratories (UIDL)
    Department of Pathology
    200 Hawkins Drive 5231 RCP
    Iowa City, IA 52242-1087