Sample Requirements

All samples must be labelled with 2 unique identifiers identical to the accompanying request form. Samples that do not meet these minimum requirements will NOT be processed.

Specimen Collection

Specimen should be collected into a heparinised sterile container or sterile heparin vacutainer. Bone marrow smears slides can be submitted if testing required is limited to FISH.

Specimen Volume
Bone Marrow Aspirate >2 mL (preferably first pull)
Transportation Temperature

Specimens should be transported at ambient temperature and received within 48 hours of collection. If a delay in transit is anticipated samples may be stored at 4degC overnight.

Turnaround Times
G-banded metaphase analysis (Routine) 18 days
G-banded metaphase analysis (Urgent) 5 days
FISH (Routine) 3 days
FISH (Urgent) 24 hours
Please note

EDTA is NOT the preferred anti-coagulant and can impede cell culture due to its chelation of calcium. Samples received in EDTA can be processed for FISH (non-dividing cells) however it may compromise samples requiring G-banded metaphase analysis.

All slides must be labelled with 2 unique identifiers that are identical to the accompanying request form. Samples that do not meet this minimum requirement will NOT be processed.

Please note

If a patient’s surname is used as one of the unique identifiers it MUST be written in full. It is not sufficient to just write the first 3 letters of the surname on the slide.

Specimen Requirements
FISH only
  • Tissue sections (2–4 microns thick) should be placed on positively-charged, poly-l-lysine coated slides.
  • 2 slides are required per probe request plus an H&E slide with the area of interest clearly marked.
  • Pathology report

Eg. FISH request for HER2 status – send 2 unstained slides plus 1 H&E slide.
POC ploidy status – send 4 slides plus 1 H&E slide.

Molecular Oncology +/- FISH
  • 10 – 12x Tissue sections (2–4 microns thick)  on positively-charged, poly-l-lysine coated slides.
  • An H&E slide with the area of interest clearly marked.
  • State percentage tumour on the referral form under supplementary information
  • Pathology report
Transportation Temperature

Slides should be dispatched in such a way as to prevent breakage.

Turnaround Times (from receipt of sample)
FISH (Routine) 72 hours
FISH (Urgent) 24 hours
Molecular Oncology (Urgent) 48 hours
Please note

The provision of an H&E slide with the area of interest marked, for FISH studies, will ensure that the same area reviewed by the pathologist is also analysed.

All samples received must be labelled with 2 unique identifiers that are identical to the accompanying request form. Samples that do not have this minimum requirement will NOT be processed.

Specimen Collection

Samples should be collected into a sterile container containing either RPMI1640 (or similar) culture medium or sterile saline.

IGENZ can provide containers with media and/or saline if required. These containers should be kept at 4degC for 3 weeks (or 6 months if frozen) before being discarded.

Specimen Volume
  • 1 teaspoon full of tissue that appears to be of fetal origin (where possible)
  • 1 cm3 biopsy specimen of the fetus
Transportation Temperature

Samples should be transported at ambient temperature and received the same day of collection.

Turnaround Times
Genome-wide microarray 4-6 weeks
Please ensure

Local policy protocols are followed if the patient requests return of the specimen. The return of the specimen MUST be arranged by the referrer.

All samples must be labelled with 2 unique identifiers identical to the accompanying request form. Samples that do not meet these minimum requirements will NOT be processed.

Specimen Collection

Specimens should be collected into a heparinised sterile container or sterile heparin vacutainer.

Specimen Volume
  • Adult 5–10 mL
  • Paediatric 2–5 mL
Transportation Temperature

Samples should be transported at ambient temperature and received within 48 hours of collection. If transit of samples is delayed, samples may be placed at 4degC overnight.

Delays in receipt of sample may compromise the ability to obtain a result.

Turnaround Times
G-banded metaphase analysis (Routine) 18 days
G-banded metaphase analysis (Urgent) 5 days
FISH (Routine) 3 days
FISH (Urgent) 24 hours
Please note

EDTA is NOT the preferred anti-coagulant and can impede cell culture due to its chelation of calcium. Samples received in EDTA can be processed for FISH (non-dividing cells) however it may compromise samples requiring G-banded metaphase anaysis.

All samples must be labelled with 2 unique identifiers identical to the accompanying request form. Samples that do not meet these minimum requirements will NOT be processed.

Specimen Collection

Samples should be collected into a sterile container containing either RPMI 1640 (or similar) culture medium or sterile saline.

IGENZ can provide containers with media and/or saline if required. These containers should be kept at 4degC for 3 weeks (or 6 months if frozen) before being discarded.

Specimen Volume

A minimum of 0.5cm3 of tissue or 1 cm long needle biopsy

Transportation Temperature

Samples should be transported at ambient temperature and received within 24 hours of collection. If there will be a delay in transit, samples may be placed overnight at 4degC.

Turnaround Times
G-banded metaphase analysis 18 days
FISH (Routine)  3 days
FISH (Urgent) 24 hours