Marking the surgical margins of specimens: commercial acrylic pigments are reliable, rapid and safe.
OBJECTIVE
To find a medium to mark the surgical margins and orientation of complex specimens that is reliable, easy to use, safe and inexpensive.


METHODS
Several different paints, dyes and pigments were tested. A series of pigments supplied by SICPA Australia Pty Ltd, when fixed to the specimen in acetic formalin, was used on over 7000 complex specimens.


RESULTS
The pigments were easily visualised macroscopically on gross specimen and processed blocks and microscopically at the surgical margins. Review of early material confirmed its stability.


CONCLUSIONS
These pigments fulfill all the criteria of being reliable, easy to use, inexpensive, safe and stable and have been used successfully in our department for 4 years.
D000179:Acrylates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D016707:Tissue Fixation
D000179:Acrylates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde