Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen must be received within 24 hours of collection.

Bone Marrow

Collect bone marrow aspirate in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s) or a green-top (heparin) tube(s). Mix by gently inverting 8 times. Include a bone marrow aspirate smear with specimen. Forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate. Specimen cannot be frozen.

Note:  1. The following information is required on request form for processing:

A. Collection date and time

B. Pertinent clinical history

C. Clinical or morphologic suspicion

D. CBC and manual differential results from same collection. If not received, CBC and manual differential will be performed at an additional charge.

2. Indicate bone marrow on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (bone marrow).

4. Please complete and submit a “Hematopathology Request Form” with the specimen.

Fluid from Serous Effusion

Volume of fluid is cellularity dependent. Usually 20 mL of fluid is sufficient. Smaller volumes are acceptable with high cellularity. With very low cellularity, immunophenotyping may not be successful. Forward promptly at refrigerated temperature. Specimen cannot be frozen.

Note:  1. The following information is required on request form for processing:

A. Collection date and time

B. Pertinent clinical history

C. Clinical or morphologic suspicion

2. Indicate fluid type on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (fluid type).

4. Please complete and submit a “Hematopathology Request Form” with the specimen.

Peripheral Blood

Draw blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s), and send EDTA whole blood. Mix by gently inverting 8 times. Forward unprocessed peripheral whole blood promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate. Specimen cannot be frozen.

Note:  1. The following information is required on request form for processing:

A. Draw date and time

B. Pertinent clinical history

C. Clinical or morphologic suspicion

D. CBC and manual differential results from same collection. If not received, CBC and manual differential will be performed at an additional charge.

2. Indicate whole blood on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (whole blood).

4. Please complete and submit a “Hematopathology Request Form” with the specimen.

Spinal Fluid

Volume of fluid is cellularity dependent. Usually 1 mL to 1.5 mL of spinal fluid is sufficient. Smaller volumes are acceptable with high cellularity. If cell count is <10 cell/µL, send a larger volume if possible. With very low cellularity, the immunophenotyping may not be successful. Refrigerate specimen after collection, and send specimen refrigerated. Specimen cannot be frozen.

Note:  1. The following information is required on request form for processing:

A. Collection date and time

B. Spinal fluid cell and differential counts

C. Pertinent clinical history

D. Clinical or morphologic suspicion

2. Indicate spinal fluid on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (spinal fluid).

4. Please complete and submit a “Hematopathology Request Form” with the specimen.

Surgical Specimen (Including Fine-Needle Aspiration)

Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container with 15 mL of Hank’s balanced salt solution or RPMI. Refrigerate specimen after collection, and send specimen refrigerated. Specimen cannot be frozen. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. The following information is required on request form for processing:

A. Collection date and time

B. Pertinent clinical history

C. Clinical or morphologic suspicion

2. Indicate type of specimen on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (type of specimen).

4. Please complete and submit a “Hematopathology Request Form” with the specimen.