Specimen Requirements

Amniotic Fluid (AF): 15-20 ml of amniotic fluid in 2-3 sterile tubes. Please use B-D syringe. Do not use: Monoject or Jelco syringes, or silicon coated tubes. AFP testing will be performed on all amniotic fluid specimens unless otherwise indicated.

– Interphase FISH: Aspirate 5 ml of amniotic fluid in addition to the 15 ml of fluid required for cytogenetics, if possible. Bloody samples are not appropriate for interphase FISH due to the increased risk of maternal cell contamination.

Percutaneous Umbilical Blood (PUBS): Minimum of 1 ml peripheral blood in a preservative free sodium-heparin (green top) tube. Invert tube to mix well.

Molecular Studies: No additional sample is required. Cytogenetic analysis will be performed and amniocytes will be cultured to send to an outside laboratory for molecular studies.

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimen collection

a. Amniotic Fluid

i. Draw 15 to 20 ml of amniotic fluid aseptically

1. This is the recommended amount, however we will attempt analysis on all specimens received

2. Becton-Dickinson syringes are recommended. Jelco, Omnifix, and Monoject syringes have been associated with culture failure and syringe toxicity.

ii. Discard the first 1-2 ml of fluid; this may be contaminated with blood or maternal cells.

iii. Distribute fluid between two tubes (tubes provided in B-D amniocentesis kit or specimen tubes provided by our lab).

b. Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS)

i. Collect 1-3 ml blood in sterile 5 ml preservative-free sodium heparin (green top) vacutainer tube.

ii. Invert to mix well.

2. Label tubes with patient name, date of birth, date of collection, and type of specimen.  Uniquely identify twins.

3. Seal tubes with paraffin film.

4. Maintain at room temperature.

5. Complete a request form

6. Call us at (800) 328-2026.

Peripheral Blood: 5-10 ml of blood in a preservative free sodium-heparin (green-top) tube. Invert tube to mix. Prometaphase analysis will be performed on all specimens unless otherwise specified.

Newborn Peripheral Blood: Minimum of 1 ml peripheral blood in a preservative free sodium-heparin (green top) tube. Invert tube to mix well.

Molecular studies: Samples for molecular studies will be forwarded to an outside laboratory for testing. Please include an additional 5-10 ml blood in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube.

Collection Instructions:

1. 5 ml of peripheral blood (1-2 ml for newborn) in an appropriately sized preservative-free sodium heparin (green top) vacutainer tube. Lithium heparin may be used if sodium heparin is not available.

2. Mix well by inverting the tube immediately several times.

3. Label vacutainer tube with patient name, date of birth, date of collection, and type of specimen.

4. Maintain at room temperature.

5. Complete a request form.

6. Call us at (800) 328-2026.

All solid tissue samples should be collected aseptically and transported in tissue culture media or Hank’s balanced salt solution. Do NOT put in water, fixative, formalin or saline. Please keep sample at room temperature.

Products Of Conception/Fetal Tissue: Large chorionic villi sample (approximately 1-3 cm³) and a fetal tissue sample such as skin, lung, or pericardium. Please send multiple tissue types if possible. Label tube with tissue type or origin.

Skin Biopsy/Solid Tissue: 1-3 mm³ or more tissue. Label tube with tissue type or origin.

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimen collection

a. Products of Conception/Fetal Tissue

i. Specimen should be obtained aseptically.

ii. We prefer a large sample (minimum of 1 cm³) of chorionic villi and a fetal tissue sample such as skin, lung or pericardium.

iii. In early gestation cases, uterine contents may be sent.

b. Skin Biopsy

i. Clean site with antiseptic soap (alcohol or iodine should not be used).

ii. Obtain biopsy (2-3 mm³ in size).

2. Transfer to a sterile vial containing media (DCI can provide upon request), RPMI, viral transport media or Ringer’s solution.  DO NOT use alcohol, formalin or preserved saline.

3. Seal vial(s) with paraffin film.

4. Label container with patient name, date of birth, date of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain at room temperature.

6. Complete a request form.

7. Call us at (800) 328-2026.

Bone Marrow: Aspirate 1-2 ml bone marrow into a sterile syringe containing 0.1 ml preservative free sodium heparin, invert syringe to mix, and transfer to a 3 ml preservative free sodium-heparin (green-top) vacutainer tube.

Leukemic Peripheral Blood: Patient should have WBC of 15,000 or higher with approximately 10% circulating immature myeloid or lymphoid blast cells. Collect 5 ml of peripheral blood in a preservative free sodium-heparin (green top) vacutainer tube.

Lymph Node/Spleen/Tonsil Biopsy: >5 mm³ tumor biopsy collected under aseptic conditions and transported in sterile tissue culture media.

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimen collection

a. Bone Marrow

i. 1-2 ml of initial bone marrow aspirate drawn into a preservative-free sodium heparinized syringe (approx. 500 USP sodium heparin per ml specimen).

ii. Transfer bone marrow aspirate to a 5 ml preservative-free sodium heparin (green top) vacutainer. Invert to mix.

b. Leukemic Peripheral Blood

i. Collect 5 ml of blood in a preservative-free sodium heparin (green top) vacutainer. Invert to mix.

c. Lymph Node

i. Lymph node should be placed immediately in transport media. RPMI media is recommended, or DCI can provide transport media upon request. Cap tightly and seal with paraffin film.

2. Label container with patient name, date of birth, date of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain at room temperature.

4. Complete a neoplastic request form.

5. Call us at (800) 328-2026.

Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Slides:  For each probe requested, a minimum of three slides of four-micron tissue sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks on positively-charged slides. The area of interest should be marked.  Pathology report and H&E slide of the tissue should be submitted.  All slides must be labeled with 2 unique identifiers that are identical to the accompanying request form.

If possible, please provide slides of normal tissue of the same type to be used as a control.

If paraffin blocks are submitted, there will be additional fees for processing.

Solid Tumor Tissue: At least 1 cm³ representative tumor tissue collected under aseptic conditions and transported in sterile tissue culture media.

Collection Instructions:

1. Obtain at least 1 cm³ of material from a viable area with as little non-tumor or necrotic tissue as possible. Specimen should be placed in sterile RPMI or transport media (DCI can provide upon request).

a. If RPMI is not available, viral transport media or Ringer’s solution may be used. DO NOT use formalin, alcohol, or preserved saline.

2. Label container with patient name, date of birth, date of collection, and type of specimen. Cap tightly and seal with paraffin film.

3. Maintain at room temperature.

4. Complete a neoplastic request form.

5. Call us at (800) 328-2026.

Specimen Requirements

Please submit two T25 flasks for testing.

1. Perform a 1:4 split of one confluent T25 flask.

2. If the cells are adherent and healthy the next day, then they are ready to be sent to us!

3. Label two flasks with the cell line, passage date, and your study identifier.

4. If the cells will be shipped via FedEx or UPS, fill up 2 flasks completely with medium.  (No extra media necessary if delivered by local courier.)

5. Please also include an aliquot of media along with the flasks in case it is necessary to feed the culture prior to harvesting for metaphase chromosomes.

6. Fill out the Cell Line Request Form.

7. Call us at (800) 328-2026.