ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

ACTIVITY NO. 2
GROSSING

I. INTRODUCTION:
Grossing, often referred to as “cut-up” may follow fixation. This involves a careful examination
and description of the specimen that will include the appearance, the number of pieces and their
dimensions. The specimens may require further dissection to select appropriate areas for examination.
Specimens that are to be processed will be placed in suitable labeled cassettes (small perforated baskets)
to segregate them from other specimens.
The duration of the processing schedule used to process the specimens will depend on the type
and dimensions of the largest and smallest specimens, the particular processor employed, the solvents
chosen, the solvent temperatures and other factors.

II. OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this laboratory exercise, the student is expected to:
1) discuss the grossing technique as one of the steps in routine tissue processing;
2) perform skillfully the steps of grossing;
3) enumerate the sources of error in performing the procedure; and
4) discuss the importance of performing this method in routine tissue processing.

III. MATERIALS:
Cutting board (plastic)
Knife
Fixed tissue specimen
Tissue cassette

Page | 9
 ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

IV. PROCEDURE:

1. Wear a laboratory gown.

2. Wash hands and wear apron, mask, gloves, goggles and head cap.

3. Remove the specimen from the 10% formalin container using the forceps. Make sure to drain
excess solution from the specimen into the container.

4. Place the specimen on a clean plastic cutting board and carefully examine the specimen.

5. Cut the specimen to prepare a tissue size of 2cm2 and no more than 4mm-thick using a clean
knife. Prepare at least 10 slices. Make sure to obtain slices from appropriate areas of the
specimen.

6. Place each slice of tissue inside a clean tissue cassette.

7. Label each tissue cassette with an identifier (Example: Three tissue slices will be coded as
SP14-50001-A1, SP14-50001-A2 and SP14-50001-A3, respectively).

● SP14-50001: Accession Number

● A-1: Specimen number and Block number

8. Record the number of tissue cassettes prepared in the specimen processing report sheet.

9. Dispose used and contaminated materials on appropriate waste container.

Page | 10
 ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

REPORT SHEET
ACTIVITY NO. 2
GROSSING

NAME: ___________________________________________ RATING: ___________

DATE PERFORMED: __________________ DATE SUBMITTED: ______________

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Draw and label the procedure of grossing.

Page | 11
 ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Enumerate at least five (5) problems encountered in grossing.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________.

2. Discuss the importance of grossing in routine tissue processing.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________.

3. What are the areas of the tissue that need to be subjected for grossing?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________.

Page | 12
 ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

ACTIVITY NO. 2
GROSSING
Performance Assessment Sheet

Name:_________________________________________ Date:_________________________

PROCEDURE
You must: RATING REMARKS
1. Wear a laboratory gown.

2. Wash hands and wear apron, mask,

gloves, goggles and head cap.

Grossing:
3. Remove the specimen from the 10%
formalin container using the forceps.
Make sure to drain excess solution from
the specimen into the container.

4. Place the specimen on a clean plastic

cutting board and carefully examine the
specimen.

5. Cut the specimen to prepare a tissue

size of 2cm2 and no more than
4mm-thick using a clean knife. Prepare
at least 10 slices. Make sure to obtain
slices from appropriate areas of the
specimen.

6. Place each slice of tissue inside a clean

tissue cassette using the forceps.

7. Label each tissue cassette with an

identifier (Example: Three tissue slices
will be coded as SP14-50001-A1,
SP14-50001-A2 and SP14-50001-A3,
respectively).

Page | 13
 ST. ALEXIUS COLLEGE, INC.

● SP14-50001: Accession number

● A-1: Specimen number and Block
number
8. Record the number of tissue cassettes
prepared in the specimen processing
report sheet.
9. Dispose used and contaminated
materials on appropriate waste
container.

RATING:

4 – EXCELLENT
3 – VERY SATISFACTORY
2 – SATISFACTORY
1 – POOR
0 – NOT DONE

LEVEL OF COMPETENCY:

Evaluator: Evaluation Date:

Student:

Page | 14