Table 4.

Tissue Requirements for Genetic Tests

Laboratory procedure	Recommended sample types
Karyotype	Heparinized marrow aspirate (preferred) or blood or fresh biopsy
FISH	Fresh cells for metaphase analysis; for interphase analysis, alcohol-fixed cells, smears, touch preparations, or formalin-fixed, non-decalcified tissue sections
Southern blot analysis, gene expression array, rtPCR	Fresh blood or marrow (EDTA), frozen nucleated cell pellet, frozen tissue
PCR, DNA sequencing, CGH array, microRNA	Fresh blood, marrow aspirate, or body fluid; frozen or paraffin-embedded tissue

Refer to collection and handling requirements for each assay in each testing laboratory.