Rectal Biopsies for Hirschsprung Disease (Fresh Tissue)

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Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Histology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

ASRG

Test Code (Numeric Code)

9030

Laboratory Handling

Transport

Specimens must be sent fresh. Do NOT add formalin, as it permanently fixes the tissue and prevents enzymatic reactions needed for diagnosis. Place the specimen in a clean, dry specimen container. If there is a delay, place it on a piece of gauze lightly dampened with saline (not soaking) to prevent desiccation. Specimen must be accompanied by a completed Frozen Section/Fresh Tissue Orange request form.

Sample Stability

The specimen should be delivered to the Histology Lab immediately (ideally within 30 minutes).

Synonyms

Rectal Suction Biopsy (RSB)

Turnaround Time

30 minutes

Turnaround time for Frozen Section part is 30 minutes from the time the specimen is received to the laboratory. Final reporting follows the RCPA performance benchmarks: 80% of cases reported with 5 working days. 90% of cases are reported within 10 working days and 98% of cases reported within 15 working days.

Specimen Type

  • Tissue

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • Specimen Container

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • Specimen Container

Pre-testing Requirements

The Histology Laboratory must be notified on +64 (0)9 307 8989 ext. 22090 before the procedure is carried out. In addition, the Histology Laboratory must be contacted again when the specimen leaves the theatre to ensure timely receipt and processing.

After Hours: The requesting Senior Medical Officer (SMO) must contact the Paediatric Pathologist to make arrangements. The Pathologist requires 30 minutes' notices to prepare.

Additional Specimen Information

Labelling requirements: To ensure patient safety, both the specimen container and the request form must be clearly labelled with a minimum of two unique identifiers: (Full name, Date of Birth or NHI number).

Complete Requisition: The Fresh Tissue/Frozen Section orange request form must be fully completed to prevent delays. This includes providing relevant clinical details and specifying the specimen site. The responsible Senior Medical Officer (SMO) who will receive the report must be clearly identified on the request form, and the contact phone number must be included to enable immediate reporting of results.

Last updated: 10/04/2026