Requisition Requirements
All samples submitted to the lab must be submitted by authorized personnel and accompanied by a completed UAMS Cytogenetics Laboratory Chromosome Analysis Request Form and must include:
- Patient name and address
- Medical Record number
- Date of birth
- Sex of patient
- Name and department of submitting physician and lab
- Clinical information (primary diagnosis, transplant information, etc.)
- Source of specimen
- Date and time specimen collected
- Test requested
Sample Requirements
Specimens should be collected under sterile conditions. The primary specimen container (innermost container holding the specimen) must be labeled with at least name and medical record number. All specimens must be properly packaged and labeled to indicate the general nature of the materials transported. Infectious material must be packaged and shipped in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Ensure that the container is securely packaged to prevent temperature extremes or leakage during transport.
Specimens requiring an anticoagulant must be submitted in sodium heparin. If a Vacutainer is used, gently invert the tube five to ten times; do not shake. Lithium heparin is contraindicated.
If UAMS Cytogenetics transport medium is recommended but not available, other sterile tissue culture media may be substituted.
Transport and Delivery to Lab
Deliver specimens the day of collection at room temperature accompanied by a completed UAMS Cytogenetics Laboratory Chromosome Analysis Request form. Specimens collected within UAMS should be delivered to the UAMS Clinical Laboratory; specimens collected outside the institution should be delivered directly to the Cytogenetics Laboratory.
Specimens should be transported at room temperature. Do not freeze or send samples on ice.
Specimens collected after hours should be kept at room temperature and sent to the UAMS Clinical Laboratory.
Sub-optimal or Unacceptable Specimens
Blood and Bone Marrow
- Clotted specimen
- Collected in inappropriate anticoagulant
- Received more than 48 hours after collection
- Inappropriate or leaky container
- Inadequate volume (QNS)
- Unlabeled or mislabeled specimen
Solid Tissue and Tumor
- Collected under non-sterile conditions
- Transported in non-sterile, leaky, or dry container
- Inadequate size sample
- Received more than 24 hours after collection if not refrigerated, or 48 hours after collection if refrigerated
- Unlabeled or mislabeled specimen