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UNC is committed to providing the highest quality diagnostic dermatopathology with a focus on prompt, courteous clinical service, education, and advancement of the field.


Jayson Miedema, MD
Director, Dermatopathology

Services We Provide:

Original Diagnosis/Wet Tissue: We review skin biopsies taken by health care providers and submitted in formalin bottles to our laboratory. We routinely process and complete cases within 48 hours of receiving the specimen. We know what it feels like to wait on the pathology results, and we do everything we can to minimize that wait.
Regional Courier Service: We provide daily, complimentary regional courier service who will pick up the specimens at your office. We provide you with shipping containers, pre-filled specimen bottles, specimen bags, and requisition forms. Daily regional courier service provided by Dash Courier Service: 919-839-0527.
Diagnostic Reporting:    Reports can be faxed to your office or securely emailed to you and your staff. Electronic ordering and reporting are available through UNC’s CareLink and Epic.
Slide Consultation/Second Opinion: We provide expert second opinion and consultative review for referring pathologists, clinicians, and patients on previously prepared slides that were originally diagnosed elsewhere. Sometimes, this requires integrating results from other departments, including Molecular Pathology, Surgical Pathology, Genetics, and Dermatology, which we can coordinate and summarize in one concise report. We also review material prepared elsewhere for patients who are referred for treatment at UNC. When we are finished, we will send a report to the referring health care provider and to the pathologist who originally reported the case.
Clinicopathologic Correlation: We are always available and welcome the opportunity to discuss cases with you. In addition, UNC has excellent clinical faculty with expertise in difficult melanocytic lesions, challenging eruptions, and blistering diseases that can be utilized in complex cases as well. Challenging cases can also be presented and discussed in the Department of Dermatology weekly Grand Rounds and monthly UNC-Duke Conference.
Special/Immunohistochemical Stains: In collaboration with the Department of Pathology, we provide a wide variety of common and esoteric/cutting-edge immunohistochemical and special stains. In situ hybridization is available for kappa and lambda light chains, EBV (EBER), CMV, HPV-low risk, and HPV-high risk.
Immunofluorescence:  Direct and indirect immunofluorescence testing, along with specialized ELISA testing when necessary, are available 7 days per week to help diagnose immunologic disorders such as blistering diseases, connective tissue disease, and vasculitis. Dr. Luis Diaz and Dr. Donna Culton are world experts in immunobullous diseases. They are available for clinical consultation as well as providing diagnostic expertise with immunofluorescence testing. Specimens for direct immunofluorescence should be transported in bottles containing Michel’s transport media (which we provide for you).
Molecular/Ancillary Testing: In collaboration with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, we provide access to an array of specialized testing including:

  • PCR Analysis of B-cell (IGH) and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement to assess clonality in lymphoid lesions.
  • DNA sequencing to detect KIT gene mutations associated with responsiveness to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug imatinib (Gleevec) in patients with melanomas occurring in mucosal, acral, or sun-damaged sites.
  • Flow cytometry for hematolymphoid lesions
  • Electron microscopy
 Educational Activities:   We are responsible for teaching dermatopathology to the UNC Dermatology, Pathology, and Family Medicine residents, medical student, and visiting residents and medical students. Teaching is performed in many different ways including PowerPoint lectures, “unknowns” slide sessions, slide study sets for independent study, and daily sign-out around a multi-head microscope. In addition, dermatopathology is an integral part of the weekly Grand Rounds and monthly UNC-Duke conferences.

 

Patient Frequently Asked Questions

For Providers:

How to Submit a Specimen
We provide daily, complimentary regional courier service that will pick up the specimens at your office. For offices located outside of the regional courier service, complimentary shipping is available via FedEx, UPS, or other carriers. Of course, we provide you with complimentary shipping containers, pre-filled specimen bottles, specimen bags, and requisition forms. Please contact Greg Sturtz at 919-843-2482 so that we can arrange for the transportation service that best fits your needs.

Specimens and slides can be mailed to:
UNC Dermatopathology Service
8131 Neuroscience Research Building
115 Mason Farm Road, CB# 7287
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7287

Specimens should be submitted in separate formalin-filled bottles (which we provide for you). Only one specimen form is necessary for each patient, but each specimen should be clearly labeled with the patient’s name, date of birth, anatomic site, and specimen letter (i.e., A, B, C). Specimens and Specimen Requisition Forms should be sealed in a plastic bag. In addition, for those outside of our complimentary regional courier service, the specimen to be shipped should also be enclosed in a crush-resistant container along with absorbent material such as gauze, sponge, or paper towels. For all slides and specimens, please include a copy of our patient’s insurance card (both front and back).

How to Set Up an Account
Please call Greg Sturtz at 919-843-2482 to set up an account. We will work with you to find a flexible arrangement that meets the needs of your practice.

How to Order Supplies/Specimen Forms
Call the Dermatopathology Laboratory at 919-843-2482, fax the order to 919-843-2530 or send an email to dermpath@med.unc.edu.
EPIC Dermatopathology Tip Sheet

DermPath Presentation: ASDP Poster

Faculty

Staff