Blood samples: 2 tubes with a total of 6 ccs in ACD (yellow top) or EDTA (lavender top) tubes. Keep ambient temperature and ship by overnight courier. Samples must be received in our laboratory within 72 hours of draw.
Note:
- For infants, a minimum of 3 ccs is sufficient
- We accept DNA; at least 10 micrograms
We request formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Please submit:
- 6 slides of tumor sample (5 micron serial sections, unstained; 1 H/E stained).
- 6 slides of matched normal tissue (bordering tissue, normal lymph node(s), unstained; 1 H/E stained).
- Blood samples: 2 tubes (6 ccs each) in ACD (yellow top) or EDTA (lavender top) tubes (blood sample is used as a back-up normal control in case normal control from tissue sample is unsuccessful).
Ensure that the slides are clearly labeled with the patient name or identifier, date of birth, and type of sample (tumor, normal). Place slides in appropriate containers to ensure against breakage. Alternatively, the paraffin blocks may be submitted.
We request formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Ensure that the blocks are clearly labeled with the patient name or identifier, date of birth, and type of sample (tumor, normal). A copy of the pathology report should accompany the tissue block. We prefer to receive tissue blocks, but if they are not available, we will accept unstained slides (please submit one slide per antibody to be tested plus one for H&E, cuts must be 4 microns thick). Place slides in appropriate containers to ensure against breakage.
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples are accepted. We require one H&E slide (4 micron section) with a coverslip to serve as a reference slide, and five unstained slides (10 micron sections) with no coverslips. If the sample is a needle biopsy or clearly has very little tumor, please send additional slides. Ensure that the slides are clearly labeled with the patient name or identifier and date of birth and type of sample. Place slides in appropriate containers to ensure against breakage. Alternatively, the paraffin blocks may be submitted (they will be returned). Please call for any questions regarding sample requirements.
Prenatal Specimen Requirements
Amniocentesis/CVS samples: 2 T25 flasks of confluent cells sent padded to arrive on M/Tu/W. Testing is not available on uncultured amniocentesis or CVS.
A blood sample from the mother maybe required (2 tubes with a total of 6 ccs in ACD (yellow top) or EDTA (lavender top) tubes) for use as positive control. Maternal cell contamination studies are not done here but are required for autosomal disorders and dosage analysis on X-linked disorders. MDL can assist in coordinating sending out a specimen for this purpose.
Amniocentesis and CVS samples are accepted for prenatal testing only for known mutations. MDL does not perform carrier testing on a female fetus for hemophilia A or B. A copy of the cytogenetics report is required on samples sent in for prenatal diagnosis.
