Blood for Cancer Cytogenetics

Requisition

Chromosome & FISH Studies - Cancer Cytogenetics (CLS)

Collection

Collect at least 3 mL in a green top tube containing sodium heparin.   Enter CACYTO into the laboratory information system.

Storage

Send the specimen immediately to the Cancer Cytogenetics laboratory at the Diagnostic and Scientific Centre (DSC) during regular hours. Specimens that are collected in the evening on Sunday through Friday may be stored at room temperature overnight and sent to the laboratory in the morning. If a specimen is collected at other times, contact a cytogenetics technologist or Dr. B. Roland.

Transport

The CLS courier transports specimens from the laboratory at all sites to the Cancer Cytogenetics laboratory (at the DSC). Specimens from the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Foothills Medical Centre are routed to the DSC via the 11th Floor laboratory at the Foothills Medical Centre.

Rejection Criteria

A specimen for cytogenetics may not be analyzed if it is more than 24 hours old, frozen, exposed to a fixative, dried, unlabelled or collected in an inappropriate container.