Specimen Collection
2mm
3
full thickness punch biopsy- placed in a sterile container with transport media at an ambient temperature (8 to 24 degrees C).
Transport media is provided by the Cytogenetics Laboratory at LabPLUS. If transport media is unavailable, please transport the specimen in sterile saline.
Specimens placed in formalin cannot be accepted.
Assay Method
Fibroblast samples are cultured. Depending on the requested test, the cultures themselves are sent directly to the testing laboratory or DNA is extracted for testing.
All fibroblast cultures are stored in liquid nitrogen.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
Skin samples for fibroblast culture are accepted from products of conception and from postnatal patients.
Fibroblasts are grown in culture, so must be viable upon receipt.
Fibroblast culture can provide:
-
Germline DNA in haematological malignancies
-
DNA for molecular testing
-
Live cells for functional and metabolic studies
-
A cell line stored in liquid nitrogen for future testing
DNA and live cells can be sent away. Please refer to the
Diagnostic Genetics Sendaway service information page
for more details.
Download: Diagnostic Genetics Sendaway form - Diagnostic Genetics Sendaway Form.pdf
Contact Information
To contact the Cytogenetics team:
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
All samples must be collected using sterile technique
Same day delivery, temperature 8 to 24 degrees C.