Autopsy Special Procedures

Pictures of findings at the autopsy may be taken for future reference. Organs may be preserved and stored in formalin for further examination, sampling for microscopy, presentation at conferences, or archiving for medical student training, depending on the particular situation and family consent.

Sometimes, the pathologist will order special laboratory studies to be carried out on tissue samples taken during an autopsy. These may include:

• cultures or tests for genetic material to identify infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi)
• chemical analysis for drug levels, metabolic abnormalities, and poisons
• genetic studies to identify disease-associated mutations or heritable diseases

Additionally, tissue may be frozen and stored for future diagnostic or research purposes.