Technical details regarding how to prepare and submit each sample, are provided below.

A requsition / order form, filled by the pyhsician with the clinical information should be provided with each sample.

The requsition form is available on our web page for printing and saving on a desktop for recurrent , easy access.

Biopsy:

Bone marrow biopsy, lymph node biopsy and biopsies of other organs are  submitted in %10 formaldehyde with the lids tightly closed and selaed to prevent leakage.

Each biopsy container is labeled on a side surface with demographic data of the patient.  Labels should not be applied to the lid of the container but to the side surfaces.

Fixative solutions such as B5, Bouin, Holland solution should only be used for fast delivery within a few hours. Prolonged exposure to any of these fixatives may potentially interfere with specimen examination; B5, Bouin or Holland solution are only to be used for  specimens that can be delivered within a few hours after sampling.

In all other instances, for specimens where the lag time between sampling and delivery may  exceed 5-6 hours,  %10 formaldehyde should be used safely.

Our laboratory preserves the right to reject specimens not labeled with patient` name/demographic data.

Aspirate smears  :

Bone marrow aspirate smears and aspirates from solid organs suspected for involvement by hematopoetic neoplasia, are prepared on site during the procedure and air dried. Each glass slide is labed at least with patient`s initials and packaged within protective plastic containers which can be requested from MLL.

Each container is labeled with patient`s  name/demographic data; preserved and/or transferred at room temperature.

Our laboratory preserves the right to reject specimens not labeled with patient`s name/demographic data.

 

Flowcytometric immunophenotyping :

Blood based specimens such as peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate are submitted either with EDTA or heparin containing tubes as the anticoagulant. EDTA should be preferred if no smear is being provided seperately. Heparin should be preferred is specimen delivery will take more than 24 hours.

Body fluids such as pleural fluid, ascitic fluid are transferred with regular/ dry tubes containing no additives/no anticoagulants. Body fluids are preserved and transferred at 4 `C. In contrast to peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate they are not stored at room temperature.

Because body fluid s are not natural media for cells, cellular degeneration occurs very guickly. The transfer of a body fluid is preferentially organised prior to sampling and delivery to the laboratory should be accomplished within a few hours.

Our laboratory preserves the right to reject specimens not labeled with patient` name/demographic data.