Test Directory

Description:

Chromosome analysis is performed on the leukemic blood or bone marrow. The appropriate mitogens are added during culture set up depending upon the diagnosis. The harvesting includes the arrest of cells in mitosis using colcemid followed by fixation with acetic acid and methanol, staining the slides and analysis using MetaSystems.

Chromosome analysis is used to evaluate the chromosome abnormalities in lymphoid and myeloid malignancies. Indication is important for the culture set up.

Preferred Specimen Type: Leukemic blood or Bone marrow

Preferred Collection Container: Green Top (Sodium Heparin)

Alternate Collection Container: Lavender Top (EDTA)

Desired Specimen Volume: 3 - 5 mL

Minimum Acceptable Volume: 1 mL

• Lithium heparin is not acceptable.
• Specimens must be collected in a sterile collection container.

Each specimen must be accompanied by a requisition form, script, electronic order or physician note. Each order must indicate the reason for testing (diagnosis).

• Transport to the laboratory at room temperature.
• Store specimen as whole blood, in original tube, at room temperature and deliver to lab within 24 hours.
• If specimen cannot be delivered within 24 hours, store in refrigerator. Do not freeze specimen.
• Specimens collected on the weekends must be refrigerated upon arrival at HNL Lab Medicine.

• Specimen frozen
• Specimen arriving without any form of patient identification (unlabeled)
• Specimen with attached needles
• Specimen arriving with broken or leaking collection tube
• Unfixed specimen treated with fixative

• Bone Marrow Chromosome Analysis
• Neoplastic Chromosome Analysis
• Bone Marrow Karyotype

Analysis of a minimum of 20 cells harvested from unstimulated cultures. For the mature B- and T-cell disorders, a combination of unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated cultures may be appropriate as described. Unstimulated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cultures infrequently yield CLL-related clonal chromosomal abnormalities; however, they can reveal myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-related clonal abnormities since some of these patients might have co-morbid MDS because of either prior therapy or age-related. Similarly, unstimulated 24-h multiple myeloma (MM) cultures can reveal co-morbid MDS-related clonal abnormalities.