Table of Contents

Introduction to Specimen PRESERVATION.............................................................................................2

Safety and Disposal Considerations in Specimen Collection.......................................................2
Preparation............................................................................................................................................2
Avoiding Common Problems.............................................................................................................3
Preservation..........................................................................................................................................5
Alcohol..................................................................................................................................................5
Labeling.................................................................................................................................................5

       
 
 SPECIMEN PRESERVATION
Introduction to Specimen PRESERVATION
Laboratory tests contribute vital information about a patient's health. Correct
diagnostic and therapeutic decisions rely, in part, on the accuracy of test results.
Adequate patient preparation, specimen collection, and specimen handling are
essential prerequisites for accurate test results. The accuracy of test results is
dependent on the integrity of specimens.

Safety and Disposal Considerations in Specimen Collection

In all settings in which specimens are collected and prepared for testing, laboratory
and health care personnel should follow current recommended sterile techniques,
including precautions regarding the use of needles and other sterile equipment. Treat
all biological material as material that is potentially hazardous as well as
contaminated specimen collection supplies. For all those who are involved in
specimen collection and preparation, the responsibility to adhere to current
recommendations designed to maintain the safety of both patients and health care
workers does not end when the patient is dismissed.
There are four steps involved in obtaining a good quality specimen for testing: (1)
preparation of the patient, (2) collection of the specimen, (3) processing the
specimen, and (4) storing and/or transporting the specimen. Since information
related to any of these areas may change as clinical laboratory technology changes,
please refer to the latest edition of the Labcorp Directory of Services and Interpretive
Guide for current instructions.
Preparation
Prior to each collection, review the appropriate test description, including the
specimen type indicated, the volume, the procedure, the collection materials, patient
preparation, and storage and handling instructions.
Preparing the Patient. Provide the patient, in advance, with appropriate collection
instructions and information on fasting, diet, and medication restrictions when
indicated for the specific test.
Preparing the Specimen. Verify the patient's identification. Proper identification of
specimens is extremely important. All primary specimen containers must be labeled
with at least two identifiers at the time of collection. Submitted slides may be labeled
with a single identifier, but two identifiers are preferred. Examples of acceptable
identifiers include (but are not limited to): patient's name (patient's first and last
name exactly as they appear on the test request form), date of birth, hospital number,
test request form number, accession number, or unique random number. A
location such as a hospital room number is not an appropriate patient identifier. If
chain of custody documentation is necessary for the procedure, follow the
appropriate protocol. All specimens should be labeled in the presence of the patient.
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Process and store the specimen(s) as required. Appropriate storage and handling are
necessary to maintain the integrity of the specimen and, consequently, the test
results.

Avoiding Common Problems

Careful attention to routine procedures can eliminate most of the potential problems
related to specimen collection. Materials provided by the laboratory for specimen
collection can maintain the quality of the specimen only when they are used in strict
accordance with the instructions provided. To collect a sufficient quantity of each
type of specimen indicated for the procedures to be performed, please consult the
volume requirements published in this Directory.
General Specimen Collection. Some of the common considerations affecting all
types of specimens:
 Please examine specimen collection and transportation supplies to be sure
they do not include expired containers .
 Label a specimen correctly and provide all pertinent information required on
the test request form. (See Blood Specimens: Chemistry and Hematology −
Blood Collection/Transport Containers .)
 Submit a quantity of specimen sufficient to perform the test and avoid a QNS
(quantity not sufficient), as indicated in the test requirements. (See Quantity
Not Sufficient.)
 Use the container/tube indicated in the test requirements for appropriate
specimen preservation.
 Follow patient instructions prior to specimen collection Including the proper
order of blood draw when multiple tubes are required. (See Blood Specimens:
Chemistry and Hematology – Consideration for Single and Multiple Sample
Collection.)
 Carefully tighten specimen container lids to avoid leakage and/or potential
contamination of specimens.
 Maintain and transport the specimen at the temperature indicated in the test
requirements.
 Mix specimen with additive immediately after collection by inverting 5-10
times.
Serum Preparation. The most common serum preparation considerations:
 Separate serum from red cells within two hours of venipuncture.
 Mix by inverting specimen with additive immediately after collection.
 Allow specimens collected in a clot tube (eg, red-top or gel-barrier tube) to clot
before centrifugation. (See Blood Specimens: Chemistry and Hematology −
Preparing Serum  on clotting and gel-barrier tubes and red-top tubes.)

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  Avoid hemolysis: red blood cells broken down and components spilled into
serum. Causes and prevention are discussed under the section on hemolysis.
 Avoid lipemia: cloudy or milky serum sometimes due to the patient's diet
(discussed under the section on lipemia).
Plasma Preparation. The most common considerations in the preparation of plasma:
 Collect specimen in additive indicated in the test requirements.
 Mix specimen with additive immediately after collection by inverting 5-10
times.
 Avoid hemolysis or red blood cell breakdown.
 Fill the tube completely, thereby avoiding a dilution factor excessive for total
specimen volume (QNS).
 Separate plasma from cells within two hours of venipuncture or as indicated in
the test requirements.
 Label transport tubes as “plasma”
 Indicate type of anticoagulant (eg, “EDTA,” “citrate,” etc)
Urine Collection. The most common urine collection considerations:
 Obtain a clean-catch, midstream specimen.
 Store unpreserved specimens refrigerated or in a cool place until ready for
transport.
 Provide patients with instructions for 24-hour urine collection(s).
 Add the preservative (as specified in the test requirements) to the urine
collection container prior to collection of the specimen if the preservative is
not already in the container.
 Provide sufficient quantity of specimen to meet the minimum fill line on
preservative transport container.
 Provide the proper mixing of specimen with urine preservative as specified in
the test requirements.
 Use the collection container as specified in the test requirements, and
refrigerate the specimen when bacteriological examination of the specimen is
required.
 Carefully tighten specimen container lids to avoid leakage of specimen.
 Divide specimen into separate containers for tests with such requirements.
 Provide a complete 24-hour collection/aliquot or other timed specimen.
 Provide a 24-hour urine volume when an aliquot from the 24-hour collection is
submitted.
 Preservatives vary for each test; refer to test information for the required
preservative.

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Preservation
Specimens of insects and arthropods, if properly preserved and cared for, can last hundreds of years. Any
given specimen carries an enormous potential to inform us about itself and the time and place of collection.
Maintaining any specimen for many years carries a cost. Proper preservation ensures a high quality
specimen, which increases the quality of information the specimen contains, and increases the value of the
maintenance of the specimen. A good specimen takes up just as much room as a bad one. The same as five
dirty, rusty, junk cars take up just as much space as five clean, shiny, perfectly restored cars. 
Detailed information about general and specific types of preservation can be found within the publications
recommended on the Collecting Insects page of this wiki. Below is an overview appropriate for general
preservation and curation.

Alcohol
Rubbing Alcohol, also called Isopropyl Alcohol and Isopropanol[1] is a commonly available alcohol that
can be used to preserve specimens, but it is not recommended for long term storage. Specimens will
become very brittle over a short period of time. 
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol and grain alcohol[2] is generally the best fluid for short and long term
preservation of specimens. Low concentrations of alcohol (below 70%) will not properly preserve a
specimen, while high concentrations (above 90%) may cause the specimen to crush under osmotic
pressure. Generally 80% (160 proof) ethanol is the best to use. In a pinch, high alcohol distilled spirits,
such as 100 proof vodka or rum, can be used, but only for short periods of time until replaced by proper
strength ethanol.
If there is a chance that the ethanol will be significantly diluted (for example, many specimens in the same
jar, specimens are large and fluid filled, etc.) it is best to replace the ethanol once after 24-48 hours. Some
large immature flies, dragonflies, beetles, and caterpillars may begin to rot internally before they become
sufficiently preserved if placed directly in ethanol. Two common practices used to prevent this are: 1)
inject the specimen with ethanol before immersing within ethanol; 2) bring water to a boil, take it off the
heat, drop the specimen in the water and leave it for 1-2 minutes, remove specimen, pat dry, place in
ethanol. Replace ethanol once after 24-48 hours.NEVER allow specimens preserved in ethanol to dry out,
unless they have been removed for pinning.

Labeling
Lessons about labeling have already been presented twice in this wiki: on the Photography page and on
the Collection page. This is because labeling is very important. Review previous labeling lessons if you are
unsure of what information is important for a label, and the proper format for that information. 
Here we will concentrate on how to make permanent labels. Field labels are ephemeral, they only need
to convey information for a short period of time, from the field to the lab, and can be written on almost any
convenient scrap of paper. Electronic labels attached to a photograph do not alter the way the photograph is
stored, sorted, etc. 
Permanent labels for pinned, pointed, fluid preserved, or slide mounted specimens differ from field or
electronic labels:
1. They must be made of a substance that can last as long as the specimen, potentially
hundred of year.

2. They take up physical space, every square inch of an insect drawer costs money to buy
and maintain. 
3. They have a real potential to damage other specimens when specimens are being
moved in a drawer.
4. They are read by humans.
5. They are generally found grouped together (a unit tray may have 50 specimens with 50
different labels made by 50 different people). 

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Considering the above, a permanent label should have the following qualities: 1) made of archival
material; 2) as small as possible so as to not take up too much room in the collection (this is not as
important for specimens stored in fluid); 3) not overly long or oddly shaped to be less likely to break other
specimens; 4) font size large enough to be read by a person, with clearly defined characters (sans-serif),
and with unambiguous information; and 5) information presented in a specific order so humans scanning
many labels will be able to quickly find the specific specimens (for example, if among 200 specimens of
species X only those from Arkansas are needed, it is easier to scan the labels if "state" is always in the top
left corner of the label).
1. Preservation of specimens.
Short Term: Specimens in drawers must always be kept in a low humidity environment and must be
checked at least every 3 months for pest infestations. Fluid levels of fluid preserved specimens must be
checked every 12 months. Detailed information about general and specific types of preservation and
curation can be found within the publications recommended on the Collecting Insects page of this wiki. 
Generally the only way to assure that specimens are properly preserved is to hire a part time or full time
curator. 
Long Term: A known, written, funded plan must be in effect to properly deal with a collection in the
event of the death of the curator, loss of funding for the collection, etc. Generally an agreement is made
with a large facility that will accept the collection as a donation. Additionally an account should be
established to help defer costs of transportation, curation, and supplies incurred by the accepting facility. 

2. Maintaining access to specimens.

Specimens should be available for others to study, which includes regular access to the collection, lab
space, a microscope, a system and records keeping for loans, and the appropriate ordering of specimens so
specific taxa may be found quickly. Specimens locked away from the greater scientific community are of
little value. 
Generally the only way to assure that specimens can be accessed is to hire a part time or full time curator. 

3. Upkeep and growth of the collection.

As our understanding of the natural world changes, the taxonomic status of a given species may change.
For example a species may be moved from one genus to another, or what was once thought to be a single
species may be two or more subspecies, or a complex of multiple distinct species. To reflect these changes
in the collection, current literature should be regularly surveyed, identification cards should be updated,
and the collection should be rearranged as necessary. 
Additionally, collections should have facilities to accept new specimens. Room must be available for
additional specimens of taxa already represented in the collection, and for new taxa added to the collection.
A general plan for collection expansion should be devised. 

Generally the only way to assure upkeep and growth of the collection is to hire a part time or full time
curator. 

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1.  "Taxidermy". Queensland Museum Network. The State Queensland. Retrieved 22
June 2018.
2. ^ BLUM, J.: Formol als Conservierungsflüssigkeit. Zool. Anz. 16, 1893, Page 450-
452
3. ^ COLEMAN, R. / KOGAN, I.: An improved low-formaldehyde embalming fluid to
preserve cadavers for anatomy teaching. J. Anat. 192, 1998, Page 443-446
4. ^ JORES, L.: Die Conservierung anatomischer Präparate in Blutfarbe mittels
Formalin. Zbl. Path. Jena 7, 1896, Page 134