Overview :

Macpherson et al evaluated the chances of successful in vitro tissue culture from a stillborn fetus or deceased newborn infant. This can help determine how and when to submit tissue specimen for cytogenetic analysis. The authors are from the University of Pennsylvania.

Stillborn fetues were classified after Langley (1971) as described in section 38.17.01:

The first observation was that specimens from Grade II or III macterated stillbirths rarely grew in tissue culture. Therefore, cytogenetics should not be performed.

The second observation was that it was not necessary to make harvesting a night emergency procedure provided the fetus is refrigerated at 4°C.

In vitro tissue culture yields were optimum for:

(1) newly deceased newborn infants ranging from >= 580 to <= 1740 grams

(2) newly deceased stillbirth ranging from >= 230 to <= 1100 grams

(3) stillborn fetus with maceration grade 0 ranging from >= 300 to <= 750 grams

(4) stillborn fetus with maceration grade I ranging from >= 130 to <= 400 grams

Organs routinely sampled:

(1) lung

(2) kidney

(3) spleen

NOTES:

(1) The study was from 1985. I believe the success rate for in vitro tissue culture is greater today.

(2) The spleen alone gave results almost as good as all 3 organ samples together.

(3) The relatively poor recovery of the kidney reflects the early autolysis that occurs.

(4) Skin is often an adequate source of fibrioblasts provided it is not contaminated. I might chose this over kidney.

Langley FA. The perinatal postmortem examination. J Clin Pathol. 1971; 24: 159-169.

Macpherson TA, Garver KL, et al. Predicting in vitro tissue culture growth for cytogenetic evaluation of stillborn fetuses. Europ J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1985; 19: 167-174.