Oral Pathology Lab
The UCLA Oral Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory provides expert diagnostic services within the scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. All services are provided by pathologists who are diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (ABOMP).
Our priority is to provide the best service for our clinicians. Please feel free to ask any questions. While our guidelines may seem extensive, they ensure better patient care. Thank you for choosing our services.
Hours and Contact Information
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on the weekends and holidays.
UCLA Oral Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory
Room 53-058 CHS
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668
Phone: (310) 825-6848
Fax: 310-206-4967
New Patients, Payment Information, and Billing Questions
Billing Information Contact: CareCloud
1633 Erringer Rd | Simi Valley, CA 93065
(805) 578-8300, Ext.14230 | Fax: (805) 578-8950
Required Forms for Specimen Submission and Medicare Compliance:
For Specimen Submission (Forms 1, 2, 3)
1. Acknowledgement Forms (includes billing policy): Required for specimen submission.
2. Biopsy Kit Request Form: For ordering additional biopsy kits. Doctors can also request kits by calling our office or submitting this form with a specimen.
3. Tissue Examination Request Form: Required for specimen submission.
For Medicare Compliance (Forms 4, 5, 6)
4. 8550 Medicare Form: Required for registration with CMS.
5. Opt-Out Affidavit: Must also include a Medicare Private Contract for each Medicare patient. Doctors must check “Yes” for Order and Refer.
6. Medicare Private Contract: Required for Opt-Out doctors and Medicare patients and retain in their office files.
Request to Release Slides/Blocks (Form 7)
7. Authorization for Release and Disclosure (UCLA OP): Required if a patient requests slides/blocks be sent to an external facility for further analysis.
Guidelines for Submitting Specimens
To ensure optimal service and compliance with CLIA 1988 Federal Regulations, we provide these guidelines for specimen collection, preservation, and transportation.
Fixation: Specimens for routine processing are to be submitted in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Please telephone our laboratory to request labeled formalin bottles (free).
Direct Immunofluorescent Analysis (DIF): Specimens for DIF should be placed in a compatible medium like Zeus solution and can be submitted alongside formalin-fixed samples or after a formalin-based diagnosis indicates the need for DIF. This solution does not have the long shelf life of formalin and should be refrigerated. When you are scheduling a biopsy procedure that would generate a sample for immunofluorescent analysis, please telephone our laboratory and we will ship you a DIF specimen kit (free).
Transportation: Our lab provides complete submission kits with pre-addressed, postage-paid mailing packaging upon request (free). All clinical specimens must be sent in screw-capped bottles with lids taped shut and placed in separate plastic zip bags containing enough absorbent material to contain any fixative. The submission form should be placed outside the plastic bag. The outer mailing package must include the doctor’s name, address, and phone number.
Criteria for Acceptance of Specimens: Specimen bottles must be clearly labeled with the patient’s name, and our specimen kits provide labels for this purpose. The submission form must include the patient’s name, a licensed doctor’s name, lesion location, clinical history, and billing information. Specimens in saline are not accepted, and very small tissue samples (e.g., 1 x 1 x 1 mm) are unsuitable for histological processing. Our lab only accepts tissue specimens relevant to oral and maxillofacial pathology and does not process other types of samples or analyses.