Specimen Delivery and Requirements
All specimens must be accompanied by a Cytogenetics Requisition. If you do not have a copy of the requisition, please contact the Cytogenetics Laboratory at (650) 725-6396.
Please provide a reason for referral or clinical indication for each specimen. If this information is not provided, proper testing and interpretation may be compromised.
Specimens should be appropriate for the test ordered:
- Amniotic Fluid: 20-30 ml of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis in sterile 15 ml centrifuge tubes and one small 3 ml tube for AF-AFP analysis.
- array CGH : same as Blood Routine; in addition, blood specimens on both parents are requested, if possible.
- Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS): 15-50 mg of chorionic villi sample (CVS) obtained by transcervical or transabdominal sampling in 5 ml sterile transport media (available from the laboratory) in a sterile 15 ml centrifuge tube.
- Blood, Routine: 5-10 ml of peripheral blood in a green-topped sodium heparinized tube; For pediatric cases 1-2 ml of peripheral blood in a green-topped sodium heparinized tube; NEVER use lithium or ammonium heparin; Tubes should NOT be centrifuged.
- Blood, High Resolution: same as for Blood, Routine
- Blood, Breakage (Fanconi anemia and Ataxia Telangiectasia): same as for Blood, Routine
- Tissue (products of conception, skin fibroblasts): POC: » 1 g. of tissue of fetal origin, including chorionic villi, in sterile transport media (available from laboratory). Other solid tissue (skin fibroblasts): equivalent in size to 3 mm punch biopsy in sterile transport media (transport media is available from the laboratory, please call (650) 725-6396.
- Bone Marrow: 1-2 ml of bone marrow aspirate in a green-topped sodium heparinized tube; Aspirates should be drawn in a sodium heparinized syringe and then placed in tube; NEVER use lithium or ammonium heparin; Tubes should NOT be centrifuged.
- Blood, Leukemia (unstimulated): same as for Blood, Routine
- Tumor: Fresh tumor biopsy in 5-10 ml sterile transport media in a sterile container (transport media is available from the laboratory, please call (650) 725-6396; Fine needle aspirates may also be processed.
All specimens should be delivered immediately (or, for outside specimens, within 24 hours) at ROOM TEMPERATURE to the Clinical Laboratory specimen receipt window, Stanford Hospital and Clinics room H1524.
