Specimen Requirements and Shipping Info
Shipping of samples to HematoLogics, Inc. is free of charge through the following options:
- Within a 60 mile radius of Seattle, WA using couriers contracted with HematoLogics, Inc.
- Anywhere in the US via FedEx.
Please call 1-800-860-0934 (1-206-264-4459 after hours) to establish a FedEx account number, arrange a local pick-up, or to order (free of charge) shipping materials, requisition forms and pre-printed shipping labels.
Weekend Specimens:
The lab is staffed 6 days a week. If shipping via FedEx for Saturday delivery, please use a Saturday delivery sticker (which we will provide) and check the Saturday delivery box on the address label. Both sticker and checked box are necessary to insure proper handling.
We are not routinely open on Sundays but will run stat specimens as needed. Please call 1-800-860-0934 (1-206-264-4459 after hours) to inform our staff of a stat specimen.Requisition Forms:
Single Sample Capability
As a general rule when requesting multiple tests, send only one specimen and we will split it for you. Exceptions to this rule include the RQ-PCR assays (listed below) that require larger specimen volumes and may necessitate additional tubes of peripheral blood or bone marrow.
High Resolution Flow Cytometry™
Peripheral Blood or Bone Marrow Aspirate
A minimum of 3 mL of peripheral blood or 2 mL bone marrow aspirate in a sodium heparin (green top) tube. Peripheral blood and bone marrow in EDTA or ACD are accepted but some antigens are lost because of Ca++ requirements. Smaller volumes are acceptable but not preferred. Tubes should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature.
Tissues
Fresh tissue (lymph node, spleen, tumor mass, etc.) completely submerged in a culture media such as RPMI-1640 and shipped on cold packs at 2°- 8°C. Tissues containing radioactive material are not accepted at HematoLogics, Inc.
Apheresis (PBSC)
A minimum of 1 mL apheresis product in a sodium heparin (green top) tube. The specimen should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature. A -80°C PBSC aliquot may be submitted on dry ice.
Peripheral Blood for Lymphocyte Subsets (Immunocompetency)
A minimum of 2 mL of whole peripheral blood drawn in a 3 mL lavender top EDTA tube. Samples should reach HematoLogics, Inc. within 48 hours of collection. ACD Solution A and heparin are acceptable alternatives to EDTA if less than 24 hours is expected to elapse before testing. The specimen should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature.
Bladder Washings/Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL)
Submit 100-150 mL of the irrigation fluid (sterile normal saline) in a sealed container. We recommend adding an equal amount of RPMI-1640 to the specimen to maintain viability of cells. Store and ship on cold packs at 2°- 8°C. The specimen should reach HematoLogics, Inc. within 24 hours of collection.
Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)
A minimum of 1 mL of properly drawn (non-traumatized) CSF in a sterile container. We recommend adding an equal amount of RPMI-1640 to the CSF to maintain viability of cells. The container must be closed tightly to prevent any leakage. Store and ship on cold packs at 2°- 8°C.
Effusions for Leukemia/Lymphoma Diagnosis
Effusions should have 10 units of preservative free heparin/mL. We recommend adding an equal amount of RPMI-1640 to the effusion to maintain viability of cells. This suspension should be shipped on cold packs at 2°- 8°C.
Peripheral Blood or Bone Marrow Aspirate for Sorted Cell Chimerism Analysis or Sorted Cell Tumor Confirmation
A minimum of 10 mL of peripheral blood or 5 mL of bone marrow aspirate in a sodium heparin (green top) tube. Smaller volumes are also acceptable but not preferred. Specimens should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature. Peripheral blood and bone marrow collected in ACD or EDTA are acceptable but not preferred.
Molecular Analysis
B- and T-Cell Gene Rearrangement PCR, Activating Point Mutation Assays (FLT3, JAK2, c-Kit) and BCL-1/BCL-2 monitoring
Peripheral Blood or Bone Marrow
A minimum of 3 mL of peripheral blood or 2 mL bone marrow aspirate in a sodium heparin (green top) tube for Molecular Analysis and High Resolution Flow Cytometry™. If ordering only Molecular Analysis, submit 2 mL of peripheral blood or 1 mL of bone marrow in EDTA (lavender top) tube. Specimens should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature.
Tissues
Fresh tissue completely submerged in a culture media such as RPMI-1640 and shipped on cold packs at 2°- 8°C. Tissues containing radioactive material are not accepted at HematoLogics, Inc.
Paraffin embedded tissue specimens
Paraffin embedded tissue specimens should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature. (Please note: very small biopsies may be exhausted during DNA extraction.)
Quantitative RQ-PCR assays (BCR-ABL, PML-RARA, AML1-ETO, CBFB-MYH11, E2A-PBX1, MLL-AF4, TEL-AML1)
Submit a minimum of 5 mL peripheral blood or 3 mL bone marrow in a EDTA (lavender top) tube or alternatively a sodium heparin (green top) tube. Send for next day delivery (mark Saturday delivery for specimens send on Friday). The specimen should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature.
Cytogenetics
Please check www.diagnosticcytogenetics.com for more specific information.
Peripheral Blood or Bone Marrow Aspirate
A minimum of 10 mL of peripheral blood or 1-2 mL bone marrow aspirate in a green top tube (sodium heparin) for cytogenetic or FISH testing. Tubes should be stored and shipped at ambient temperature.
Tissues
Fresh tissue (lymph node, spleen, tumor mass, etc.) should be completely submerged in a culture media such as RPMI-1640.