VCCS Sample Requirements You are here:HomeOur ServicesVictorian Cancer Cytogenetics ServiceSample Requirements Specimen types accepted by VCCS: • Bone marrow • Peripheral blood • Lymph node • Bone marrow trephine • Paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) • Other tissue samples can be tested after consultation with us. Minimum Specimen Labelling Requirements: • Label a sterile tube with the patient’s name (surname and first name), sex, date of birth, UR number and the date the specimen was collected. • Place in a biohazard bag together with a completed interhospital referral form (Click here for VCCS Request Form). Sample collection requirements: Bone marrow • Bone marrow (0.5 – 1.0mL) collected into a sterile tube containing lithium or sodium heparin without gel or beads. Blood specimens • Peripheral blood (5-10mL) collected into a sterile tube containing lithium or sodium heparin without gel or beads. These tubes are commercially available, but, if unobtainable, a sterile plain 10mL tube with 1000IU/mL of liquid sodium heparin added will suffice. • EDTA tubes are NOT acceptable. Bone marrow trephine • In the absence of an adequate aspirated bone marrow specimen, a small piece of bone marrow trephine may be sent in the same collection tube as for bone marrow or blood, but with a covering of tissue culture medium for transport (see lymph node requirements below). • As trephine cultures are often unsuccessful, a preferred tissue for culture may be peripheral blood (PB) for acute leukaemias or lymphoproliferative disorders if there is a significant abnormal cell population in the peripheral blood. Lymph node • Specimens should be from a viable area of tumor and kept sterile at all times. • Fresh, unfixed specimens should be placed into clearly labelled containers containing RPMI, PBS or viral transport medium • Keep the specimen at room temperature and transported to the laboratory ASAP. • Note: Specimens taken from areas of necrosis or normal tissue or from a heavily irradiated area are not appropriate for cytogenetic analysis. FISH on paraffin-embedded tissue • See referral form for sending FISH on paraffin-embedded tissue to VCCS (PDF 141.6KB). All specimens are to be addressed and delivered to: Pathology Specimen Reception, Attn: Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Service 2nd Floor, Inpatient Services Building A St. Vincent’s Hospital Princes Street, Fitzroy, 3065 Tel: 03 9231 4154 • All specimens must be accompanied by a signed request form with cytogenetics clearly requested. • Ensure specimens are not exposed to extremes of temperature during transit • NOTE: Do NOT place on ice! • Specimens sent Monday to Friday should reach the department no later than 5.00pm. • If taken later in the day, keep specimen at room temperature (RT) and send to department the next morning. • Ensure specimen is not exposed to extremes of temperature during transit. • Specimens taken late Friday may be sent overnight, to arrive on Saturday. • If taken at the weekend or on a Public Holiday, keep the specimen at RT; send first thing the next working day. • New leukaemia samples must be handled on the same day as obtained. Therefore, if taken after hours, contact St. Vincent’s Hospital for the pathologist/scientist on call. Urgent results: If an urgent result is required, please follow-up the despatch of the specimen with a telephone call to the department and the specimen will be processed more rapidly. An urgent result may be provided within 24-48 hours. Completed analysis with banding should take no more than 5 days.