Clinical Services - Laboratory

I write in response to your Official Information Act request, received by us on 23 March 2020

You requested the following information:

on 11 March

Request 1:

• I am writing to request a copy of the CMDHB best practice protocol for the archiving, storage,or biobanking of human tissue for diagnostic purposes, whether they are formalin fixed,paraffin embedded or pathology slides, and the standards, legislation or scientific evidencewhich provides the basis for the CMDHB protocol.

Request 2:

• Is the CMDHB best practice protocol for the archiving, storage, or biobanking of humantissue for diagnostic purposes, whether they are formalin fixed, paraffin embedded orpathology slides, is a standard which is universally adopted by all NZ DHB's and medicallaboratories, or does each DHB or medical laboratory determine their own best practice?

Request 3:

• Please explain the potential hazards of leaving formalin fixed, paraffin embedded orpathology slides in an unsecure, non-temperature regulated environment (say a on anemployee's desk outside of the laboratory) for 2 months.

Request 4:

• Please provide me with the name of the independent agency or agencies which providesoversight for medical laboratories in NZ.

and on 23 March

•I respectfully request your DHB's policy on Second Opinions requested by a third party who is amedical practitioner, currently involved in the medical care of the patient from whom thepathological material was originally obtained.

Request 2:

•In the event that your DHB deviates from the aforementioned RCPA policy, I request anexplanation for why your DHB deviates from best practice.

Our responses are attached

Files

• OIA 11032020 VAN DEY LOVATT Laboratory Policy 2 requests Redacted