SPECIMEN
REFERRALS
Taking and managing specimens
All specimens submitted for examination must be accompanied by a Referral Note which is also the request for examination of the specimen.
All containers, tiles or paraffin blocks submitted for examination must include sufficient information to enable them to be identified.
Referral note
Για τη συμμόρφωση με το Πρότυπο ELOT EN ISO 15189:2022 είναι απαραίτητο να περιλαμβάνονται οι ακόλουθες πληροφορίες σε ΟΛΑ τα παραπεμπτικά σημειώματα:
- Patient's surname
- Patient's name
- Admission No.
- Hospital/Clinic
- Full date of birth
- National Ins. No. or Tax ID No.
- Patient’s Address and Contact Details
- Whether or not a copy of the findings is required and how it is to be sent
- Type of examination requested
- Origin / type of specimen
- Total number of containers comprising the case
- Date and time of specimen collection
- Clinical data / type of examination requested
- Doctor's name, surname and signature.
Referral notes should be filled out as accurately and clearly as possible.
Incomplete or illegible referral notes may lead to errors and delay in issuing the results.
It is also important to provide all relevant clinical data and history in order for accurate opinions and advice about patient management to be produced.
SPECIMENS OR REFERRAL NOTES RECEIVED WITHOUT LABELS OR THAT DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM BASIC IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA MAY BE REFERRED BACK TO THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL WHO SENT THEM.
Histological specimens
Immediately after a patient's tissue specimen is taken, it must be placed inside a container of suitable size (containing 10% neutral formalin) to avoid any damage to the specimen. Make sure that the lid is tightly closed to avoid leaks during transport. It is not necessary to refrigerate the specimen if it is placed in formalin. Make sure that the appropriate container size is used and that the specimen is fully immersed in formalin. Macroscopic specimens will be disposed of 10 days after the test findings are issued. If it is considered necessary to retain the macroscopic material, the referring clinician must notify the laboratory in writing before the disposal date.
Specific supplementary tests may be carried out on the Paraffin Blocks Records which have been kept for 10 years.
Urgent specimens
By agreement, the laboratory may prioritise issuing results in urgent cases. If urgent results are needed, it is important that this be clearly indicated in the referral note. It’s also vital to contact ISTODIEREVNITIKI's medical secretaries about this matter.
Make sure that the appropriate contact details of the referring clinician are stated in the referral note so that we can contact them if that is considered necessary.
Packaging and sending specimens
Information about how to package and send specimens intended for anatomic pathology testing is laid down in the relevant Ministry of Health circular.
Each specimen to be sent to ISTODIEREVNITIKI for diagnosis must comply with the following packaging instructions:
- It should consist of three parts: a) a main sealed container, b) secondary sealed packaging and c) outer packaging of adequate strength for the volume, mass and intended use, with at least one surface with minimum dimensions of 100mm x 100mm.
- If liquids are being sent, there must be a sufficient quantity of absorbent material to absorb the contents. It must be located between the main container and the secondary packaging.
- If multiple, fragile, main containers are placed in a single secondary packaging, they must be individually wrapped or separated from each other to prevent contact between them.
