For sample collection please visit local blood draw centre.
Specimen and Shipping Instructions
Ordering
Please carefully read the recommended specimen and shipping instructions before ordering a test. Incomplete and/or illegible requisitions and/or specimen labeling will result in testing being suspended until the complete information can be obtained. Requisitions must be signed by the referring physician.
Prenatal Testing Guide
Specimen Requirements
The preferred specimen is peripheral blood collected in EDTA (mauve top) vacutainer. Extracted DNA can also be submitted. Please specify concentration and method of extraction.
For microarray, the preferred specimen is peripheral blood in EDTA (lavendar top) vacutainer. For family follow up studies, the preferred specimen is peripheral blood in Sodium Heparin (NaHep) (green top) vacutainer.
For oncology cytogenetics, the preferred specimen is blood or bone marrow in Sodium Heparin (NaHep) (green top) vacutainer.
For molecular genetics, the preferred specimen is peripheral blood collected in EDTA (lavendar top) vacutainer. Extracted DNA can also be submitted; please specify concentration and method of extraction. Please contact the laboratory to inquire about submitting specimens other than peripheral blood.
For mitochondrial testing, urine samples may also be provided for follow up testing only. Please provide 30mL of urine in a sterile container. Urine samples should be refrigerated; samples should be frozen if receipt will occur >2days post-collection.
Shipping Instructions
Lab Hours: 0700 to 1700 Monday to Friday.
Sample Handling: samples should be shipped at room temperature overnight by courier and according to current standards for Transportation of Dangerous Goods, and in IATA Packing instruction 650 summarized as:
- a watertight primary receptacle
- a watertight secondary receptacle with sufficient absorbent material to absorb the fluid in the primary receptacle.
- an outer package of adequate strength for its intended use.
Samples requiring RNA extraction must be less than 48 hours old on arrival in the lab or they will be deemed inadequate.
Samples requiring DNA extraction only must be less than 5 days old on arrival in the lab or they will be deemed inadequate.
Mailing Address: (also printed on requisition)
Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Victoria Hospital, Room B10-123
London Health Sciences Centre
800 Commissioners Rd E.
London, Ontario, Canada
N6A 5W9
Cytogenetics Laboratory
Victoria Hospital, Room B10-114
London Health Sciences Centre
800 Commissioners Rd. E.
London, Ontario, Canada
N6A 5W9
