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Hematopathology Specimen Collection

Please note the information provided is intended as a guideline. Turnaround time is measured from the time of receipt of the specimen at our laboratory to the time the tests result is made available to the client. As with all healthcare matters, the facts of a particular case may necessitate a turnaround time that is longer than stated.

1 

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Specimen Requirements:

  • Submit core and clot in 10% Neutral buffered formalin

  • Transport in a container with a sealed lid

Turn Around Time:​

  • Approximately 24-48 hours. 

2

Flow Cytometry

Specimen Requirements:

  • Peripheral Blood: 3-10 mL in green (sodium heparin) or lavender (EDTA) top tube

  • Bone Marrow Aspirate: 2-3 mL in green (sodium heparin) or lavender (EDTA) top tube

  • Malignant Fluids: 50-100 mL in collection pouch, depending on cellularity

  • Fresh Tissue Biopsy: I TRANSPORT MEDIA (RPMI)

  • Fine Needle Aspirate: in TRANSPORT MEDIA (RPMI)

  • Specimen must be refrigerated

Turn Around Time​

  • Approximately 24-48 hours. TAT is variable as we do not perform this test in-house

Special Instructions:​

  • Because Flow Cytometry is time sensitive, it is best to contact Central Oregon Pathology directly to schedule a pickup

  • If you do not have RPMI, tissue may be submitted fresh (in saline) and we will place it in RPMI

3

Cytogenetics (Chromosome Analysis)

Specimen Requirements:

  • Peripheral Blood: 3-10 mL in green (sodium heparin) or lavender (EDTA) top tube

  • Bone Marrow Aspirate: 2-3 mL in green (sodium heparin) or lavender (EDTA) top tube

  • Fresh Tissue Biopsy: In TRANSPORT MEDIA (RPMI)

  • Fine Needle Aspirate: in TRANSPORT MEDIA (RPMI)

  • Specimen must be refrigerated

Turn Around Time​

  • Approximately 7 to 10 days. TAT is variable as we do not perform this test in-house

Special Instructions:​

  • for products of conception please submit fresh

4

FISH

​Specimen Requirements:

  • Peripheral Blood: 5-10 mL in sodium heparin (green tube)

  • Bone Marrow Aspirate: 1-2 mL in sodium heparin (green tube)

  • Bone Marrow Core: In RPMI media, FFPE is NOT acceptable

  • Fresh Tissue Biopsy: In RPMI media

  • Malignant Fluid: 50-100 mL depending on cellularity

  • Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF): In sterile tube with equal volume of RPMI

Turn Around Time​

  • TAT is variable as we do  not perform this test in-house

Special Instructions:​

  • Because FISH is time sensitive, it is best to contact Central Oregon Pathology directly to schedule a pickup

  • If you do not have RPMI, specimen may be submitted fresh and we will place it in RPMI

5

PCR

Specimen Requirements:

  • Peripheral Blood: 5-10 mL in EDTA (lavender/purple) tube

  • Bone Marrow aspirate: 3/5 mL in EDTA (lavender/purple) tube

  • Specimen must be refigerated

Turn Around Time​

  • TAT is variable as we do  not perform this test in-house

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