Abstract: The present invention is directed to a card member for receiving a tissue specimen to be processed for histological examination including an absorbent portion for maintaining the tissue specimen in engageable contact with the card member, and a generally non-adhesive portion for allowing separation of the tissue specimen from the card member, where the card member provides the specimen with a known, consistent orientation throughout processing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing a tissue specimen in situ prior to histological examination by providing a tissue specimen having a predetermined examination face, disposing the specimen on a tissue positioning member for removably maintaining the tissue specimen with the examination face in a desired orientation thereon, processing the tissue specimen while maintaining the examination face in the desired orientation on the positioning member throughout processing, separating the tissue specimen from the tissue positioning member by application of a separation force, and maintaining the orientation of the examination face after the specimen is removed from the tissue positioning member wherein processing of the specimen includes contacting the specimen with fluids for dehydrating and clearing the specimen and subsequent casting of the specimen in an embedding material for forming a specimen-containing mold portion having the tissue specimen contained therein in desired orientation