Ordering Guidance

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

Necessary Information

A 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 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 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 will not be returned. An image of the slides will be stored per regulatory requirements.