ABSTRACT
Placentas may be received either fresh or fixed, depending on institutional practice. Fresh placentas can be stored in a refrigerator, kept at 4°C, for at least a week; therefore, placentas can be held for this period and thereby enable a later pathologic examination should an indication for such examination arise. Fresh tissue has the added advantage of providing material for cultures, genetic and metabolic studies, and electron microscopy. Placentas from pregnancies with blood-borne diseases such as maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis should be well-fixed prior to handling. Adequate fixation of a placental specimen can only be achieved if it is immersed in a truly adequate amount of formalin and in a container large enough to prevent its deformation.
