Instructions for Shipping and Handling Specimens
Peripheral Whole Blood: 5 ml (adult), 2–5 ml (pediatric), minimum of 1 ml (newborns), in EDTA (lavender top) vacutainer tubes. Collect and transport immediately at room temperature. Transfusions of whole blood prior to peripheral blood collection may result in an inconclusive interpretation.
Maternal Cell Contamination Study (MCC): We test for maternal cell contamination, test #7, with all prenatal testing – whether amnio or CVS. Please provide a maternal sample, 2–3 ml of whole blood in a lavender top tube, either before or with the fetal sample. If a fetal sample is contaminated with maternal cells, interpretation will be inconclusive.
Sterile Amniotic Fluid (14–20 weeks’ gestation): Send cultured amniocytes (two T25 flasks); flasks must be filled with media for shipment.
Alternatively, send two (2) samples of direct amniotic fluid, 15–20 ml each, in sterile, securely capped plastic tubes. Collect and transport immediately at room temperature. Please establish a cell culture before sending direct fluid, and maintain it as a backup until results are reported. If the sample size is small, the cell culture takes precedence over the direct specimen.
Sterile CVS (9–12 weeks’ gestation): Send cultured cells (two T25 flasks); flasks must be filled with media for shipment.
Alternatively, send a direct CVS specimen: at least 20–30 mg of tissue in physiologic buffered saline (PBS) in a sterile, securely capped plastic tube. Collect and transport immediately at room temperature. Please establish a cell culture before sending direct tissue, and maintain it as a backup until results are reported. If the sample size is small, the cell culture takes precedence over the direct specimen.
Buccal (Mouth) Swabs or Saliva Specimens: Please contact us for further information.
Specimen Identification: Please put full name and date of birth on each specimen as it is drawn.
Paperwork: Specimens must be accompanied by a completed set of Forms (Request Form
+ Test Checklist + Consent Form + Client Information Fax Form). Copies of medical records confirming diagnosis in affected individuals should accompany specimens.
Billing: We do institutional billing. We offer a 5% prepayment discount for checks, money orders or wire transfers received in advance. We accept credit cards, but we much prefer checks. We can bill some insurance (but not out-of-state Medicaid).
Laboratory Approval: For specimen volumes less than the minimum or analysis of other specimens (e.g., fibroblasts) or specimens collected in blue, yellow or green top tubes, please obtain prior approval of the Laboratory Director. Clotted blood specimens (red top tubes) will not be accepted.
Shipment of Specimens: Specimen should be received in the UCD DNA Diagnostic Laboratory within 48–72 hours of collection. Our laboratory is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and on certain holidays as indicated on our home page. Specimens should be collected and shipped early in the week to avoid delivery on a weekend. Local couriers may be used to deliver specimens within the Denver metropolitan area. Ship specimens to this shipping address:
