Physician Office Specimen Requirements

This is a non-orderable test. Specimens collected outside of ChristianaCare are to be delivered to the Newark Campus General Laboratory Specimen Processing area (please include all associated requisitions & documentation).

Technician assistance is available for procedures performed at the Newark Campus (CH) and Wilmington Campus (WH), including the Newark Campus Surgicenter.

The procedure should be scheduled with the laboratory in advance, preferably 24 hours, by calling the Hematology Laboratory at 302-733-3922 (CH) or 302-320-2488 (WH).

Aspirate

Container/Tube:  2-mL lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Specimen:  Bone marrow aspirate - Venous specimen can be used if available.

Collection Instructions:  Aspirate specimen may be submitted on regular slides or as coverslip smears.
Note: 1. Patient’s clinical history and a peripheral blood smear are required for processing.

2. Indicate bone marrow on request form.
3. Flow cytometry and cytogenetic testing is also available on bone marrow specimens. See appropriate test listings for information on these tests.

4. Label tube with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, or financial number. Date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen are also required.
 
Biopsy

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container
Specimen:  Fresh tissue biopsy
Collection Instructions:  Needle biopsy specimen should be placed directly into formalin. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Indicate tissue on request form.
2. Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, or financial number. Date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen are also required.

Clot Section

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container
Specimen:  Clot section
Collection Instructions: A clot section should be submitted when a malignancy is suspected, when an aspirate specimen is sparse, or when requested by physician. Firm clot specimen should be placed directly into formalin. Clot section and biopsy specimen should never be put in same container of formalin. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: 1. Indicate clot section on request form.
2. Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, or financial number. Date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen are also required.