--- Query Results --- | |||
| Organization: | Alberta Precision Laboratories | ||
| Test Name/Synonym: | Autopsy Exam; (Synonyms: Adult, Medico-Legal, Pediatric, AUT) | ||
| LABID (Connect Care): | LAB9 | ||
| Specimen Type: | Tissue | ||
| Specimen Source: | Autopsy | ||
| Primary Container: | Body Containment Bag | ||
| Specimen Collection Requirements: | Enclose decedent as soon as practically possible after time of death in a body containment bag suitable to the condition of the body to contain all body fluids. The decedent must be placed in a body containment bag at the site of death prior to transport to APL. Do not remove IV lines/medical interventions. Consent for autopsy and autopsy orders are created digitally in Epic for requests from Connect Care facilities and manually in paper form for requests from non-Connect Care facilities/locations. Refer to Adult Autopsy, Pediatric Autopsies and Client-Resource-Autopsy Requests Guideline in Test Resources for autopsy consent and ordering instructions, decedent identification requirements, body labelling, and instructions regarding bodies with known or suspected communicable diseases. | ||
| Test Resources: | Client Resource - Autopsy Requests Guideline Autopsy Consent and Consultation Request AHS 20597 Genetics and Genomics Cytogenetics Analysis, Constitutional Requisition Adult Autopsy Pediatric Autopsies | ||
| Stability and Storage: | Refrigerate decedent as soon as possible after death and maintain at refrigeration temperature until transport. Autopsy should be performed as soon as possible (next working day preferred), up to a maximum of 3 days if death on a weekend or immediate transport not possible. Consult the performing site for autopsies on decedents greater than 3 days post-mortem. | ||
| Transportation: | Deaths which fall under the Alberta Fatalities Inquiry Act require notification to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). Medico-legal/forensic autopsies are performed at dedicated OCME facilities in Calgary and Edmonton. Refer to page 3 of the Autopsy Consent and Consultation Request form for details on Fatalities Inquiry Act death classifications and contact information. All categories of medical autopsy are performed at AHS facilities under the responsibility of APL. Refer to the Adult Autopsy, Pediatric Autopsies, and Client-Resource-Autopsy Requests Guideline for instructions on preparation, handling, and transport of bodies of deceased persons. Autopsies Performed by APL: For performing site destination, refer to the Flow Chart for Autopsies on Adult and Pediatric Patients (Section 3.4.1) and the Adult Autopsy Coverage Map (Appendix 6.1) in Client-Resource-Autopsy Requests Guideline Transport from Site of Death to APL Autopsy Facilities:
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| Routine Turn Around Time: | Typically, the autopsy is performed within 48 hours of death if there have been no delays. The body is released immediately after completion of the autopsy from the performing facility. The autopsy and release may be delayed if death falls on Fridays, weekends, or holidays. A preliminary autopsy report is available within 3 business days of the date of autopsy, and the final report within 60 business days. Reports for CJD cases will have a longer turnaround time. | ||
| Testing Schedule: | Monday to Friday
Adult - Not performed on weekends or Stat Holidays unless special approval is obtained by the responsible autopsy pathologist. Pediatric - Upon request and approval on weekends in Calgary and Edmonton | ||
| Testing Area: | Anatomic Pathology | ||
| Performing Site: | Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) – Adult Autopsy University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) – Adult and Pediatric Autopsy Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) – Pediatric Autopsy Red Deer Regional Hospital (RDRH) – Pediatric Autopsy | ||
| Additional Test Information: | Impending death or death with suspected/known metabolic disease: Metabolic autopsies are STAT. During routine work hours, call or page autopsy staff. After hours contact resident on call for Anatomic Pathology. See Contact/Comments. Neuropathology cases (including CJD): Neuropathology is included as a part of a complete medical autopsy, alternatively a partial (neuro only) autopsy can be performed.
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| Contact Comments: | Refer to Client Resource - Autopsy Requests Guideline for complete contact information. Metabolic Disease Service at Alberta Children’s Hospital: Phone (ACH) 403-955-7211 Metabolic Disease Service at University of Alberta Hospital: Phone: 780-407-8936 Edmonton Zone Report Inquiries - AHS Health Records (autopsy results): 780-407-6997 or disclosure@albertahealthservices.ca | ||
| Last Updated On: | Friday, December 5, 2025 | ||
