It cannot be emphasized enough that strict adherence to proper specimen collection and handling technique is critical to being able to test a wide range of chemotherapy drugs and to produce a test result which is accurate and useful.  Proper technique is easy but absolutely essential.  It is heartbreaking when we receive a specimen that cannot be tested due to improper collection or handling methods.  We always try our very best to salvage such specimens, frequently laboring for an entire day over a single specimen, but results generally are disappointing for us and for the physician and patient.     

 Viable (living), non-contaminated tumor cells are required.  Do not place specimens in formalin or other fixative.  Please phone Weisenthal Cancer Group at 714-596-2100 at least two days in advance of surgery or other biopsy procedure (and preferably sooner) so that we can provide specimen transport medium, shipping containers, and overnight shipping labels.  Specimens should be kept cool but not frozen and should be shipped on the same day they are collected.  Please read carefully the specific information which is provided below.  Also, please note that while we provide emergency and makeshift techniques, the use of Weisenthal Cancer Group transport media and materials is essential except in the most extreme circumstances. 

Please feel free to phone us with your questions.

Optimal Specimen Sources

·         Surgical Specimens

·         Malignant Effusions

·         Peripheral Blood

·         Tru Cut Needle Biopsy

Suboptimal Specimen Sources

·         Fine Needle Aspirate

·         Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy

·         Percutaneous Liver Biopsy

·         Precultured cells  

Makeshift Methods

·         Substitute materials and techniques – For emergency use only

Surgical Specimens

 

Obtain dense, viable tissue. · Do not use an electrocautery knife. ·  Do not place specimen in formalin or other fixative. · Avoid contamination. ·  Avoid drying of the specimen. ·  Immediately place the specimen in fresh Weisenthal Cancer Group transport medium. ·  Seal inner and outer transport vials securely. · Keep specimen cool. ·  Use a frozen cold pack. ·  Do not freeze the specimen. ·  Do not place ice pack in minus 70 freezer (minus 40 is acceptable). · Do not use dry ice. · Transport specimen the same day it is collected. 

                                            

Malignant Effusions

 

Add heparin to collection container prior to obtaining the fluid. · Use 10 units of heparin per each ml of the collection container’s total capacity. ·  Do not use containers that could leak or break. · Call Weisenthal Cancer Group in advance for malignant effusion shipping containers and materials. ·  Do not send fluid from bedside drainage racks.  ·  Keep the specimen cool. · Use a frozen cold pack. ·  Do not freeze the specimen. ·  Do not use dry ice for shipping. · Transport specimen the same day it is collected.   

 

Peripheral Blood

 

Add preservative-free heparin to a syringe or collect the specimen in a purple-top tube. · Remove the needle after collection to avoid shearing the cells. ·  Gently expel the specimen into fresh Hematologic transport media ·  If a tube is used for collection, remove the top and pour the blood into Hematologic transport medium. · Seal inner and outer transport vials securely . ·  Mix by gentle inversion · Keep the specimen cool. · Use frozen cold pack. ·  Do not freeze specimen. ·  Do not use dry ice for shipping. · Transport specimen the same day it is collected. 

 

Bone Marrow Aspirate

 

Add preservative-free heparin to the syringe prior to obtaining the specimen. ·  Obtain a “first pull” to assure sufficient blast cells for testing ·  Gently expel the specimen into fresh Hematologic transport media ·  Seal inner and outer transport vials securely . ·  Mix by gentle inversion · Keep the specimen cool. · Use frozen cold pack. ·  Do not freeze specimen. ·  Do not use dry ice for shipping. · Transport the specimen the same day it is collected. 

 

Tru Cut Needle Biopsy

 

Ten or more passes will be required.  ·  Rinse the specimen off of the needle between passes into a clean vessel containing Ringers’s solution (use non-D5 Ringer’s).  ·  Pour the rinse liquid, which also contains the specimen, into Weisenthal Cancer Group solid Tumor transport media. ·  Seal the inner and outer transport vials securely. ·  Keep the specimen cool. · Use a frozen cold pack. ·  Do not freeze the specimen. ·  Do not use dry ice for shipping. · Transport the specimen the same day it is collected. 

 

Suboptimal Specimen Sources

 

If one of the above is the only possible specimen source, please call us first and we will discuss whether or not it is worth attempting, explore possible alternatives, or suggest ways to improve the chances for an assay that is at least partially successful.   

 

Alternative Methods – For emergency use only

We emphasize that, in all cases, you should phone us a minimum of two days prior to the biopsy procedure so that we can send proper specimen collection and transport medium and other materials.  Our transport medium contains multiple ingredients required to sustain cell viability.  In an emergency, other methods and materials could possibly be substituted.  However, such methods are not optimal and often produce disappointing results.

 

If you do not have our materials, please phone us at (714) 596-2100 before the surgery or biopsy and we will suggest alternative methods which are appropriate to the specimen and the situation. 

 

Do NOT place the specimen in Formalin.  Do NOT place the specimen in normal saline,  Do NOT place the specimen in RPMI.  Do NOT place the specimen in cell culture or transport media from a different laboratory.  If absolutely necessary, hold the specimen UNDER REFRIGERATION in a sterile, closed container in Ringer's solution - cold Ringer's is best, if avaliable.  Use NON-D5 Ringer's.  Do NOT freeze the specimen.  Please phone us at (714) 596-2100 for further instructions.