|
The
Retention and Use of Human Biologic Material
These guidelines were reviewed and approved by the CAP
Executive, November 2005. The guidelines have been developed to
encourage good practice and should be considered as minimum
requirements. The guidelines are not intended to meet legislative
requirements and laboratories should ensure that they comply with all
municipal, provincial and federal regulations, including statutes of
limitations.
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SURGICAL PATHOLOGY
|
MINIMUM PERIODS OF RETENTION
|
|
Wet
tissue
|
4
weeks after final report
|
|
Frozen tissue (e.g. renal biopsies)
|
Up to 20 years |
|
Paraffin
blocks
|
20 years
|
|
Slides
|
20
years
|
|
Surgical
Consultation
|
Indefinitely
|
|
Paper Requisition
|
2
years
|
|
PEDIATRIC PATHOLOGY |
|
|
Wet tissue
|
4 weeks after final report |
|
Paraffin blocks* |
20 years |
|
Slides |
20 years |
|
Surgical Consultation |
Indefinitely |
|
Paper requisition |
2 years |
|
CYTOLOGY
(gyne/non gyne)
|
|
|
Slides
(negative-unsatisfactory)
|
5
years
|
|
Slides
(suspicious-positive)
|
20
years
|
|
Fine-needle
aspiration slides
|
20
years
|
|
Cytology
Consultation/Requisition
|
Indefinitely
|
|
Male fertility slides |
1 year |
|
Paper requisition
|
2
years
|
|
Cytology paraffin blocks
|
20 years |
|
AUTOPSY RECORDS
|
|
|
Wet
tissue
|
3 months after final report
|
|
Paraffin
blocks
|
10 years
|
|
Slides
|
10
years
|
|
Hospital
Autopsy Records
|
Indefinitely
|
|
Coroner/Medical Examiner
|
as per general autopsy, or by
Autopsy Records discretion of the Coroner’s/Medical
Examiner’s Office/forensic pathologist
|
|
EM
Material
|
|
|
Blocks, Slides/ Grids/Photos
20 years
(print/electronically digital image files)
|
20 years
|
* For special pediatric cases (i.e. Children’s
Hospitals) 50 years is the recommended minimum retention period for
paraffin blocks.
|
