Do you assess the kidney tissue under a microscope following a kidney biopsy to determine the quality of the specimen obtained and if additional tissue is needed?

While we do have a microscope near the IN suite to check the adequacy of the kidney biopsy, I don't always use it. The following options are available:

• Take a picture of the core on your phone & magnify it to see if small red dots are visible which are suggestive of gloms.
• Use 16g biopsy guns to ensure adequate samples.
• Ask your friendly pathology fellow to drop in.

I do not examine the biopsy under the microscope!

I make sure that I take 3 good core samples!

Over the last several years, I never had insufficient samples for pathology assessments (thanks God)!

In addition to the above, after I take the core samples, I drop them into a saline solution. If the cores sink, they are likely to be kidney tissue. If they float, they’re probably fat or connective tissue and I have to take additional samples.