Solid Tumor Specimen Requirements

Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue sections

  • Tissue should be fixed in formalin and not exposed to decalcification solution. The paraffin block should contain no less than 3 mm area of tumor.
  • Slides should be prepared by histology using a specific protocol for cutting molecular sections to avoid contamination of the tissue sections.
  • 1 H&E and 6 unstained sections are required for most of the tests. Ten unstained sections or more are required for some tests or if the tissue is small. Please call the lab if you have questions.
  • Inclusion of normal patient tissue (either adjacent to tumor in the same block or separate block) is optimal for LOH and MSI analyses.
  • Slides should be properly labeled with a block label that matches the surgical pathology specimen number on the surgical pathology report.
  • Slides should be sent ambient temperature in proper storage containers (plastic slide boxes) to protect them during shipment.
  • A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.

Frozen or fresh tissue

  • A minimum of 2 x 2 x 2 mm of frozen tissue is required; however, 5 x 5 x 5 mm is optimal.
  • Collection date and time should be stated.
  • Tissue specimen containing at least 50% of tumor cells can be either placed into cryogenic tube and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, or placed into a tube with preservative solution provided by the Molecular & Genomic Pathology laboratory (request solution from the lab) and frozen at -20°C.
  • Ship overnight on dry ice. A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.

Fresh Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) samples

  • Fresh specimens should be collected into preservative solution provided by the Molecular & Genomic Pathology laboratory (request solution from the lab). Collection instruction will be provided with the solution.
  • Collection date and time should be stated.
  • Specimen can be refrigerated at 4°C for 12 hours or stored at -20°C prior to shipment.
  • Ship with ice packs by overnight delivery. Shipping with dry ice is recommended for multiple tubes and when a delay in shipment is possible. A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.

Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) samples

  • 1 H&E and 10 unstained sections from cell block are required. A minimum of 300 tumor cells should be present on a slide. Please call the lab if you have any questions.
  • Slides should be properly labeled with a number that matches the specimen number on the cytology report.
  • Slides should be sent in proper storage containers (plastic slide boxes) to protect them during shipment. A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.

Bile Duct Brushing or Biopsy

  • Fresh specimens or cut end of brush should be placed into preservative solution provided by the Molecular & Genomic Pathology laboratory (request solution from the lab). Collection instruction will be provided with the solution.
  • Collection date and time should be stated.
  • Specimen can be refrigerated at 4°C for 12 hours or stored at -20°C prior to shipment.
  • Ship with ice packs by overnight delivery. Shipping with dry ice is recommended for multiple tubes and when a delay in shipment is possible. A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.

Peripheral blood and bone marrow

  • 2-5 ml of fresh peripheral blood collected in EDTA (purple top) tube or ACD (yellow top) tube.
  • Blood should be refrigerated until shipment at 4°C.
  • Shipment is at ambient temperature by overnight delivery in a properly labeled shipping container for biohazard substances. A surgical pathology and/or cytology report and completed requisition form must accompany all specimens.