If you're not sure how to biopsy or even what to biopsy,
do not hesitate to call your pathologist first.
There is nothing more deflating and frustrating than receiving a "non-diagnostic" diagnosis. Your pathologist wants a diagnosis as much as you - but needs the appropriate sample to provide it!
If you are ever unsure how to best sample a lesion or even what lesion to sample to work up a certain disease, speaking with your pathologist BEFORE you sample is always recommended.
General guidelines
INK THE MARGINS of the fresh tissue, PRIOR TO FIXATION, IF YOU’D LIKE MARGINS ASSESSED.
India ink (obtain at a local art supply store), stamp pad refill ink (obtain at local office supply store), or surgical marking ink should be used. Refer to your User Guide for how to ink a sample.
use a 10:1 ratio of formalin to tissue for fixation.
Refer to your User Guide for how to deal with larger samples that do not fit into the supplied sample jars.
Bone Biopsies
Bone biopsies are best performed by a veterinary specialist, but the option to refer is not always available. Most bone biopsies received from general practitioners are too shallow, and end up being non-diagnostic because they capture only periosteal reactive tissue rather than the process causing the bony lysis deep within the bone.
Check out this video, from Clinician's Brief, on how to take a bone biopsy using a Jamshidi needle. A punch biopsy tool is generally not recommended, as it is not as long and may not penetrate the cortex.
Skin biopsies, for inflammatory or alopecic skin conditions
Coming soon!