Surgical, anatomical and consultative pathology services are available through pathologists in the Division of Pathology. The services available include:
All specimens are to be accompanied by barcode labels (CPOE- Computerised Physician Order Entry system).
Quickguide Doctor CPOE HistoCyto - OT.pdf
Quickguide CPOE HistoCyto - Clinic_Ward.pdf
Information entered into the CPOE system must include:
The following are also useful information:
Submit one electronic order for the same patient at the same operation, irrespective of the number of specimens. Make sure "Specimen Label Completed" and "Vetted & Order form completed (Dr Only)" are ticked before despatching specimens.
Additional tests ordered (immunohistochemistry, molecular, FISH or special stain), after a case has been reported, are to be accompanied by a hardcopy Histopathology request or CPOE order. The request form must include:
The laboratory cannot process the specimen if the request form is incompletely filled or if data are discrepant. This will result in delay of the turnaround time for the histopathology report.
Examples of criteria for Unacceptable Samples
Insufficient Specimen – Insufficient specimen to perform analysis.
Specimen Leaked – Container improperly secured.
Specimen Leaked – Broken Container.
Mislabelled – Serial number on specimen and request form do not correspond.
Mislabelled – Name/NRIC no. on specimen and request form do not correspond.
Mislabelled – Test(s) requested on specimen and request form discordant.
Mislabelled – Incomplete patient data.
Mislabelled – No Label on specimen and/or request form.
Mislabelled – Request form/ specimen label incomplete or illegible.
Specimen Problem – Wrong/ unsuitable sent.
Specimen Problem – Specimen not taken/ Swab stick seal not broken/ empty container.
Specimen Problem – Swab dried out/ no transport media used.
Specimen Problem – Specimen without request form/ Request form without specimen.
Specimen Problem – Specimen sent is not suitable for the test(s) requested.
Specimen Problem – Unsuitable specimen.
Miscellaneous Reasons – Test not offered by SGH laboratories.
Miscellaneous Reasons – Test cancelled
Specimens for amendments should not be sent through the porter with effect from Sep 2017. This is to mitigate any loss of specimen. Telephone/ email to inform the respective department/ ordering clinician to rectify the discrepancy on site at the laboratory. Histology orders requiring amendment will be rejected for documentation and a new histology order should be made. Staff making correction on site is to fill up the "Collected/ Amended By" section.
Name of Staff nurse, location, telephone number, technologist rejecting and reason sent to EMR.
Collection through Central porter/ Transport services/ E-porter
Specimens submitted for routine histology are categorised as indicated below, with a separate charge for each category. Multiple charges apply for multiple containers submitted.
1. Notify the lab at least TWO days in advance of procedure. The following persons are to be notified:
a. Chua Huimin, Medical Laboratory Scientist: (HP) 93638905 email: chua.hui.min@sgh.com.sg
b. Lee Ming , Consultant Pathologist: (HP) +65-81257461 email: lee.ming@singhealth.com.sg
2. Procedure for obtaining and sending biopsies:
A surgeon familiar with the procedure should perform the muscle biopsy.
a. Technical pointers: Ideally, two strips of muscle approximately 2 cm x 0.5 cm are obtained. The long axis of the specimens should parallel to the direction of the muscle fibers. Where possible, aim for the belly and avoid myotendinous junctions. . A muscle that is moderately but not severely affected should be used for the biopsy. Prior discussion with the neurologist is helpful. Avoid using muscle that has been probed with an EMG needle. Avoid electrocautery completely when opening muscle and harvesting the specimen. If using local anaesthetic, ensure the muscle is not directly injected. ,
b. Ideally, schedule the biopsy early in the morning so that specimen arrives at the Pathology Laboratory before 12 noon.
c. It is preferable that the specimen be delivered fresh STAT or within one hour after excision. Wrap the muscle in a piece of saline-moistened gauze (moistened, not soaking wet) and place it in a container or plastic bag. DO NOT IMMERSE BIOPSY SAMPLES IN NORMAL SALINE. Send immediately to: Specimen Reception, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Level 10 Diagnostics Tower, Academia
d. If biopsy done outside SGH campus and specimen will take more than 1 hour but less than 3 hours to arrive, use the method in c, but transport the specimen in a cooler box filled with ordinary ice. ENSURE THAT THE MUSCLE DOES NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE ICE.
These have different charges depending on the number of specimens.
Please raise a CPOE histopathology request with the following information or please fill up a histopathology request form with the following information:
Contact laboratory (Tel: 6321 4956) for stains or for further information, if necessary.
Fresh tissue is required. Specimen is wrapped in aluminium foil, placed in a cryotube and delivered to the lab on ice. Contact the laboratory (Tel: 63214008) for further information, if necessary.
Specimen is placed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer (the time for which the tissue is placed into fixative must be recorded).
Contact the laboratory (Tel: 6321 4008) for further information, if necessary.
Tests perform by Histomolecular and molecular lab:
EGFR Sanger Sequencing, EGFR COBAS Real time PCR, KRAS/BRAF, NRAS, BRAF V600E, BRAF Sanger Sequencing, MSI PCR, C-KIT (Exon 9, 11), C-KIT (Exon 13, 17), PDGFRA, T & B Cell Clonality test, TB PCR, SSTP(Somatic Solid Tumour Panel)
Sample requirements:
Contact laboratory (Tel: 6321 4008) for further information,
Contact pathologist-on-duty (Tel: 6321 4008) for information on procedure.
By Operating Theatre porters: 9.00 am & 3.00 pm (Monday – Friday) / 9.00 am only (Saturday)
Do not despatch specimens via the telelift system
The porters from these departments will deliver the specimens to the laboratory. Do not despatch specimens via the telelift system
Send specimens to 20 College Road Academia Level 10, Diagnostic Tower Singapore 169856 Please call Tel: 6326 6632 or 63214008.
An inadequately-filled histopathology order will result in delay of turnaround time. Click here to view all Histopathology tests
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