Ordering Guidance

Multiple oncology (cancer) gene panels are available. For more information see Hematology, Oncology, and Hereditary Test Selection Guide.

Necessary Information

Pathology report (final or preliminary) at minimum containing the following information must accompany specimen for testing to be performed:

1. Patient name

2. Block number-must be on all blocks, slides, and paperwork (can be handwritten on the paperwork)

3. Tissue collection date

4. Source of the tissue

Specimen Required

This assay requires at least 10% tumor nuclei.

-Preferred amount of tumor area with sufficient percent tumor nuclei: tissue 36 mm(2)

-Minimum amount of tumor area: tissue 18 mm(2)

-These amounts are cumulative over up to 10 unstained slides and must have adequate percent tumor nuclei.

-Tissue fixation: 10% neutral buffered formalin, not decalcified

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Tissue block and cell block

Collection Instructions: Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block or cell block with acceptable amount of tumor tissue.

Acceptable

Specimen Type: Tissue slides

Slides: 1 Stained and 5 unstained

Collection Instructions: Submit 1 slide stained with hematoxylin and eosin and 5 unstained, nonbaked slides wit 5-micron thick sections of the tumor tissue.

Note: The total amount of required tumor nuclei can be obtained by scraping up to 5 slides from the same block.

Additional Information: Unused unstained slides will not be returned.

Specimen Type: Cytology slides (direct smears)

Slides: 1 to 3 Slides for smears

Collection Instructions: Submit 1 to 3 slides unstained or stained with Diff Quik or Pap and coverslipped with a preferred total of 5000 nucleated cells or a minimum of at least 3000 nucleated cells.

Note: Glass coverslips are preferred; plastic coverslips are acceptable but will result in longer turnaround times.

Additional Information: Cytology slides used in testing will have everything scraped and not be returned.