a. providing a biopsy device having:

i. an elongated probe component comprising:

a tissue penetrating distal tip;

an elongated tubular section which has a longitudinal axis, the elongated tubular section further having an inner lumen extending therein, the elongated tubular section further having an aperture proximal to the penetrating distal tip, the aperture configured to receive tissue from the target site, and

an elongated tissue cutting member which is disposed within the elongated tubular section, the elongated tissue cutting member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated tissue cutting member further having at least one tissue cutting edge at the distal end configured to cut a tissue specimen from tissue extending into the tissue receiving aperture of the elongated tubular section, the elongated tissue cutting member further having an inner lumen extending therein to the proximal end, the inner lumen configured to deliver a tissue specimen through the elongated tissue cutting member, and

ii. a tissue collector which is releasably mounted on a proximal portion of the probe component, the tissue collector configured to receive the proximal end of the tissue cutting member and to receive one or more tissue specimens from the tissue cutting member through the proximal end of the tissue cutting member, the tissue collector having an interior chamber, the tissue collector further having a tissue retaining member within the interior chamber the tissue retaining member defined in part by a wall with openings and configured to retain the one or more cut tissue specimens, the tissue collector further having a separate fluid delivery conduit having a discharge port and an inner lumen in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the tissue collector through the discharge port to direct fluid onto the one or more tissue specimens retained by the tissue retaining member within the interior chamber of the tissue collector, the tissue collector further having a vacuum port in fluid communication with the wall openings to allow fluid or debris removal from the interior chamber;

b. advancing the probe component at least partially into or adjacent to tissue at the target site;

c. rotating the tubular section about its longitudinal axis to provide a desired aperture orientation;

d. drawing tissue at the tissue site through the aperture of the tubular section into the interior thereof;

e. advancing the tissue cutting member longitudinally within the tubular section to cut a tissue specimen from the tissue extending into the tubular section;

f. transporting a cut tissue specimen through the inner lumen of the tissue cutting member and discharging the cut tissue specimen from the proximal end of the tissue cutting member;

g. collecting the transported cut tissue specimen on the tissue retaining member within the interior of the tissue collector;

h. applying fluid to the collected cut tissue specimen through the discharge port in the separate fluid delivery conduit to wash blood or debris from the collected cut tissue specimen while retaining the collected cut tissue specimen on the tissue retaining member;

i. applying a vacuum from the vacuum port to withdraw fluid or debris within the inner chamber through the wall with openings of the tissue retaining member while retaining the collected cut tissue on the tissue retaining member within the interior chamber of the tissue collector; and

j. removing the tissue retaining member with the one or more retained tissue specimens from the tissue collector.