DNA Preparation performed by Genetics

BLOOD:

• 10 mL whole blood in LAVENDER TOP EDTA tube.
• Also acceptable: YELLOW TOP ACD tube, purified DNA from peripheral blood or cultured cells.

SKIN BIOPSY:

• Collection and transport: Obtain 2-4 mm punch biopsy of skin sample under sterile conditions and place in transport media (e.g. Alpha-MEM media, RPMI). Transport media can be supplied by the lab; call 206-598-4488 to request. If transport media is not available, the following media are acceptable alternatives if shipping time will not exceed 24 hours: lactated Ringer's solution, viral transport medium, or sterile saline. DO NOT USE formaldehyde, formalin, alcohol, or 5% dextrose, or tissue culture medium buffered with bicarbonate.

CULTURED CELLS:

• (2) T23 or (1) T75 flask (minimum 1-T25 flask)*.

*Prenatal testing requires concomitant testing for maternal cell contamination (see Online Test Guide Maternal Cell Contamination, Fetal [MCC] for ordering and specimen requirements)

Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue: Send EITHER (a) formalin-fixed slides, OR (b) formalin-fixed tissue block:

• (a) Instructions for slide specimens: 1 slide at 4-micron thickness stained with hematoxylin-and-eosin AND 10 unstained, non-baked slides at 10-micron thickness. Unstained slides can be on charged or uncharged slides. Note: In order to ensure that enough DNA is obtained, the minimum acceptable tissue area is 10 square millimeters when ten 10-micron slides are supplied (1 cubic millimeter of tissue). Tissue sections should contain as much lesional tissue as possible; to ensure detection of all types of mutations, there should be at least 10% lesional cells in the tissue area processed for DNA.
• (b) Instructions for tissue block specimen: Provide complete formalin-fixed tissue block containing lesional tissue. If there is more than one tissue block, please provide the block that has the greatest amount of lesional tissue. Tissue block will be returned at completion of testing.
• Unacceptable: Decalcified samples; tissue samples treated with fixatives other than formalin.

Requisition Form and Ordering Instructions:

1. Fill out a Genetics Requisition
2. Under “Check Test Requested,” check: "Normal Control"

Ship specimen at room temperature for overnight delivery. Specimen can be held for up to 7 days before shipping if refrigerated.

Ship specimens to:

UW MEDICAL CENTER

LABORATORY MEDICINE - GENETICS LAB

1959 NE PACIFIC ST, ROOM NW220

SEATTLE, WA 98195-7110

Blood: Refrigerate whole blood

Unacceptable Conditions: Frozen or clotted specimens

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 24 hr; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: Unacceptable

Purified DNA: Refrigerate DNA specimens. Frozen is acceptable.