A sampling tool for isolating and collecting a tissue biopsy includes a hollow sampling cylinder that includes a first end and an opposing second end. The first end being a sharpened, annular cutting edge and a central bore extending completely from the first end to the second end. The sampling tool also includes a plunger having a first end and a second end. The plunger includes an air evacuation feature in the form of an air evacuation channel that extends from one end of the plunger to the other end and is open at both ends. The sampling tool has particular utility in isolating and collecting cylindrical core placental biopsies of a standardized size that can be used for multiple downstream applications, including the sampling of other harvested solid, soft-tissue organs such as brain, liver, kidney, and spleen.
