Ordering Guidance

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

Necessary Information

1. A pathology report (final or preliminary) is required and must accompany specimen for testing to be performed.

2. The following information must be included in the report provided.

-Patient name

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

-Date of tissue collection

-Source of the tissue

Specimen Required

This assay requires at least 20% tumor nuclei.

-Preferred amount of tumor area with sufficient percent tumor nuclei: tissue 216 mm(2)

-Minimum amount of tumor area: tissue 36 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

-For specimen preparation guidance, see Tissue Requirement for Solid Tumor Next-Generation Sequencing. In this document, the sizes are given as 4 mm x 4 mm x 10 slides as preferred: approximate/equivalent to 144 mm(2) and the minimum as 3 mm x 1 mm x 10 slides: approximate/equivalent to 36 mm(2).

Preferred: Submit 3, if available, or 2 of the following specimens.

Acceptable: Submit at least one of the following specimens.

Specimen Type: Tissue block

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

Specimen Type: Tissue slide

Slides: 1 Hematoxylin and eosin-stained and 10 unstained

Collection Instructions:

Submit the followings slides:

1 Slide stained with hematoxylin and eosin

AND

10 Unstained, nonbaked slides with 5-micron thick sections of the tumor tissue.

Note: The total amount of required tumor nuclei can be obtained by scraping up to 10 slides from the same block.

Additional Information: Unused unstained slides will not be returned.

Specimen Type: Cytology slide (direct smears or ThinPrep)

Slides: 1 to 3 Slides

Collection Instructions: Submit 1 to 3 slides stained and coverslipped with a total of 5000 nucleated cells (preferred), or at least 3000 nucleated cells (minimum).

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

Additional Information: Cytology slides will not be returned.