MUSCLE BIOPSY

Objective.-To provide practical guidelines for handling muscle biopsie s to be submitted for outside processing and consultation. Design.-Rev iew each step of handling a muscle biopsy and provide alternative mean s of tissue processing when feasible. Results.-Practical guidelines ar e presented for specimen selection, performance of needle biopsy, prep aration of tissue for electron microscopy, preparation of tissue for s hipping, clinical information to be provided, and submission of tissue for molecular and biochemical studies. Conclusions.-Muscle biopsy sam ples to be sent to referral centers can be properly handled to avoid t he problems noted by the Neuropathology Needs Assessment of the Colleg e of American Pathologists.