A single sample hidden deep within the med bay holds the key to completing Premeditated Malpractice. Here’s where to track down the elusive Tissue Sample and piece together the truth behind this grisly side quest in the Dead Space remake.
Our Dead Space remake “Premeditated Malpractice” guide will walk you through finding the Tissue Sample and the DNA Scanner to complete this side mission.
Tissue Sample Needed
The Tissue Sample can be found inside the Dead Space remake’s Dead Space area, tucked behind a wall panel in the maintenance corridor near the medical wing. Look for a small, blue-glowing container mounted on the wall; interacting with it will grant the sample.
What makes this side mission confusing is that you can find the DNA Scanner in the Main Lab of Medical (on your way to collect the liquid nitrogen while fleeing the Hunter necromorph) before you find the sample it needs. The DNA Scanner will just say “Tissue Sample Needed.”
To find the Tissue Sample, you just have to play a little further.
Collect the Tissue Sample from the Hunter
After trapping and freezing the Hunter in the Cryogenics chamber near the end of Chapter 5, wait for the brief scene with Daniels to finish, then return to the cryo chamber floor and interact with the glowing necromorph body part labeled “Tissue Sample” to collect it and automatically start the “Premeditated Malpractice” side mission.
In Cryogenics, you’ll finally fight and defeat Dr. Mercer’s Hunter by Stasis-ing it in the central cryo chamber and activating the controls in the adjoining Cryogenics Control Room. Once it’s dead – and after a quick call with Daniels – you’ll be free to loot the room(s).
In the cryo chamber, all that’s left of the Hunter is a Tissue Sample. Pick that up to start the “Premeditated Malpractice” side mission. Open the RIG menu and tab over to Missions. On the right, select the Scan Tissue Sample objective under Premeditated Malpractice and choose Track Objective.
Scan the Tissue Sample at the DNA Scanner
After picking up the Tissue Sample, bring it to the DNA Scanner in the Main Lab. Interact with the scanner console to begin the analysis process. Watch the sequence as the system verifies the sample and triggers a short cutscene revealing new information about the investigation. Once the scan is complete, the next objective will update, allowing you to continue the Premeditated Malpractice side quest.
Now, your locator will lead you back to the Main Lab area of Medical and to the DNA Scanner. You’ll have to handle a few necromorphs on the way there.
How to complete the Premeditated Malpractice side mission
Premeditated Malpractice is a multi-chapter side mission that tracks the origin of the Hunter and ends in Hydroponics. Here are the critical steps to fully complete it.
1. Start the mission
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Finish Chapter 5 by freezing the Hunter in the Cryogenics room in Medical.
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At the start of Chapter 6, pick up the glowing Tissue Sample from the cryo chamber floor to start Premeditated Malpractice.
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In your mission log, set Premeditated Malpractice as the tracked objective so the locator will guide you.
2. Scan the Tissue Sample (Medical)
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Go to Medical – Main Lab (same large room you visit early in the game near Nicole’s office).
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Find the DNA scanner device near the center/shelves of the Main Lab and interact with it to analyze the Tissue Sample.
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The scan reveals the Hunter is Brent (Brant) Harris and sets your next goal: Find his ICU bed.
3. Find Harris’ ICU bed (Medical)
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From Main Lab, follow the locator back toward Security Station → Emergency Room → ER Hallway A/B → Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
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In ICU, interact with the marked bed/terminal to play a hologram of Dr. Mercer and Harris.
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After the recording finishes, the objective updates to investigate Ore Storage.
4. Investigate Ore Storage (Mining Deck – Chapter 7+)
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Progress the story until Chapter 7: Into the Void, when the Mining Deck becomes accessible.
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Follow the main path on Deck C – Mining through the corridor with laser traps. Use kinesis to move crates to block the lasers and get through safely.
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Past the door labeled Extraction Area, continue until you reach the room called Ore Storage.
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Inside Ore Storage, move the stacked kinesis boxes in the corner to reveal a security terminal; interact with it to play another Harris recording.
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When the log ends, your next task is to find a report on the Bridge.
5. Find Report on the Bridge
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Either go immediately or, for efficiency, finish Chapter 7 first since the main story sends you back to the Bridge anyway.
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From the Bridge Tram Station, enter the Main Atrium and go right; interact with the first terminal/screen near the stairs toward the Captain’s Nest.
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This plays a scene between Nicole and Captain Mathius discussing Mercer and Harris being taken to Hydroponics.
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After the recording, the mission updates to Investigate Hydroponics.
6. Investigate Hydroponics (final step)
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Travel to Hydroponics from the tram, then go via the elevator to the Central Hub.
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From the hub, pass the Sapling Room, turn left toward the West Tower, go past Flow Control, then ride the elevator up to the West Grow Chamber.
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From West Grow Chamber, take the central elevator to Floor 2 → Hydroponics Control → Nutrition Systems.
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Nutrition Systems is filled with toxic gas, so move quickly and watch your oxygen; push through into the Diagnostic Lab.
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In Diagnostic Lab, interact with the marked
What rewards do you get for Premeditated Malpractice
Premeditated Malpractice mainly pays out in an achievement/trophy and a powerful stasis upgrade rather than credits or gear drops.
Concrete rewards
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Final Regeneration achievement/trophy – unlocked when you finish the last step in Hydroponics and hear the final audio log about Harris and the Hunter’s creation.
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Prototype Stasis Module upgrade – found on the workbench in the Diagnostic Lab in Hydroponics at the end of the mission; this upgrade lets your stasis fully freeze enemies you hit with it.
Other benefits
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You unlock the Full Clearance achievement by completing the related side-mission chain (Final Regeneration is one of the required side missions listed for it).
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You also get extensive lore about Brant/Brent Harris, Dr. Mercer, Nicole, and how the Hunter was created, which is the narrative payoff for the quest.
