Renal Biopsy kits are available from MLabs and will be required in advance of the procedure. Please notify the MLABS Client Services Center at 800-862-7284 prior to sending specimen. Please complete a Muscle/Nerve/Renal Biopsy Requisition to accompany the specimen.
Three separate cores (16-18 gauge) of renal cortex are preferred. Immediately upon obtaining tissue, place the biopsy specimen(s) in saline solution in a petri dish or wrap specimen in saline saturated gauze. Using a dissecting microscope or inverted microscope ocular, examine the core(s) for the presence of punctate blood filled glomeruli. Do not crush tissue with instruments. If the specimen floats in the fixatives, it is probably adipose. If 3 cores are obtained, place one in each of three fixatives: formalin (for Light Microscopy), glutaraldehyde (for Electron Microscopy), and Zeus (for Immunofluorescent Microscopy). If 2 cores are obtained, cut 2 mm fragments from the ends of each core with an alcohol cleaned razor blade; transfer the two fragments from the first core to glutaraldehyde fixative and transfer the two fragments from the second core to Zeus fixative. Place the remaining core pieces in formalin. If 1 core is obtained, cut two 1-2 mm fragments from the ends and place in glutaraldehyde fixative, then cut two 1-2 mm fragments from the new ends and place in Zeus fixative. Place the remaining center of the core in formalin. After fixing all three specimens in the appropriate fixative, hold at 4 degrees C until shipment. Ship at ambient (room) temperature; do not freeze. Once the biopsies have been placed in their liquid containers and the tops secured, place inside the ziploc specimen biohazard bag with the absorbent sheet and seal. Wrap the bag with bubble wrap and place inside transport box. Please be careful to not contaminate the outside of the transport bags, paperwork or box when handling. Transport at room temperature. For detailed collection and shipping instructions, please see http://www.mlabs.umich.edu/files/pdfs/PRC-Renal_Biopsy_Protocol.pdf.