Pathology dip tanks — also called cadaver immersion tables or specimen storage tanks — are 304 stainless steel units that keep cadavers or anatomical specimens fully submerged in fixative solution (formalin), combining long-term preservation with an integrated elevating tray that raises the specimen to working height for dissection or autopsy work.

One unit replaces two workflows: instead of moving a donor between a storage cooler and a separate dissection table for every session, a cadaver soaking table stores, presents, and drains in a single footprint. This guide covers the design features that matter, the applications where immersion storage wins, and what these units actually cost in 2026 — including how U.S. Pathology Equipment's factory-direct pricing compares to the industry standard. Browse every configuration in the Immersion Dissection Tables collection.

Key Features & Design

Type-304 stainless steel construction. A formalin immersion tank lives its entire service life in contact with fixative chemistry and cleaning agents, so the tank, tray, and frame must resist both rust and fixative corrosion. Type-304 stainless with continuous welds is the standard for this class of equipment; crevice-free interiors also simplify drain-down and decontamination between specimens.

Elevation mechanisms. Every true cadaver immersion tank is built around a perforated internal tray that lifts the specimen out of solution and lets it drain as it rises. Three lift types are common: hand-crank mechanisms, lever-operated lifts, and motorized electric-hydraulic lifts that raise the tray to dissection height at the touch of a control. The lift is the single biggest driver of both price and day-to-day ergonomics.

Vapor control. Sealed lids and magnetic latches reduce formaldehyde vapor release into the lab and hold moisture inside the tank, which protects both air quality and specimen condition between sessions. Facilities running multiple tanks in one room should treat lid sealing as a specification item, not an accessory.

Mobility. Heavy-duty locking casters allow a loaded mortuary immersion table to move between morgue holding areas and teaching labs, then lock rigid at the workstation. For multi-room programs, casters turn one tank into shared infrastructure.

Applications

Medical schools & universities. Gross anatomy courses work the same donor for a semester or longer, and a gross anatomy immersion station keeps tissue in continuous contact with preservation solution between sessions — dissection quality stays consistent across the term, and staff never repeatedly lift a donor between cooler rack and table by hand. For a program-by-program comparison of configurations, see Best Dip Tanks for Anatomy Labs.

Pathology & morgue facilities. For forensic and autopsy cases that require fluid-submerged holding, a specimen dip tank provides secure storage with the specimen ready to raise for examination — a workflow used in medical examiner offices, hospital pathology departments, and anatomical donor program equipment rooms handling willed-body intake.

Pricing & Brands in 2026

Industry-standard industrial or custom immersion setups commonly range from $15,000 to over $26,000 depending on tank size, manual versus motorized lift, and custom filtration or drainage packages. Brands in this class include Mopec — whose HD200 immersion system is widely specified — and DAI Scientific, both established suppliers that typically sell through dealer and distribution channels.

U.S. Pathology Equipment builds the Electric Immersion Dissection Table (Model 1035-03P) in the USA and sells it factory-direct at $14,199, in stock and ready to ship — a motorized-lift body preservation tank priced below the typical entry point of the category. The difference is the channel, not the steel: factory-direct removes the dealer margin. For a line-by-line specification comparison, see Mopec vs USPE Dip Tanks, and for full category pricing including manual models and options, see the 2026 Dip Tank Price Guide.

Manual vs Motorized: How to Decide

Choose a motorized (electric) lift when the tank cycles frequently — daily teaching sessions, multiple lab sections sharing one donor, or staff who should not be hand-cranking a loaded tray several times a day. The powered lift raises and lowers at a control press, keeps session turnover fast, and is the configuration most university programs standardize on.

Choose a manual lift (hand-crank or lever) when the tank is raised only occasionally, when the install location has no convenient electrical service, or when budget is the controlling constraint. The tank-and-tray workflow and 304 stainless construction are the same; only the lift effort changes. Programs uncertain between the two should count expected lift cycles per week — above a handful, the motorized unit pays for itself in staff time and ergonomics.

Procurement: Universities vs Hospitals

University procurement typically routes through purchasing departments on purchase orders, often against state-contract or bid processes. U.S. Pathology Equipment accepts POs from universities, hospitals, and government agencies, and supplies bid-ready specifications, W-9s, and insurance certificates on request. Hospital procurement usually moves faster — capital-equipment approval, then a PO — and benefits from confirmed lead times on in-stock units rather than built-to-order import schedules.

Either way, the practical first step is the same: send your room dimensions, program size, and expected donor throughput through the contact page and we will spec the tank, lift type, and any supporting equipment as one factory-direct quote. For the full pathology room beyond the tank — autopsy tables, grossing stations, and cold storage — start with the Complete 2026 Pathology Lab Guide.

Related Searches & Equipment Terms

Buyers researching this equipment commonly search for: pathology dip tank, cadaver immersion table, specimen storage tank, cadaver soaking table, formalin immersion tank, anatomy preservation table, body preservation tank, gross anatomy immersion station, mortuary immersion table, cadaver immersion tank, specimen dip tank, and anatomical donor program equipment. All of these terms describe the same class of 304 stainless immersion equipment covered in this guide — USA-made, factory-direct, with purchase orders accepted.