TABLE II.

Summary of pre-analytic recommendations

■ For liquid biopsies, two 10 mL tubes of blood should be collected. Cell-free blood collection tubes should be used, but if EDTA tubes are used, plasma must be isolated within 6–48 hours of blood collection.

■ For tissue biopsies, core-needle or cytology specimens can be used.

■ If possible, tissue biopsies should target a growing lesion.

■ Samples should be reviewed by a pathologist to confirm that the tumour content of the sample is sufficient for molecular analysis.

■ Bone biopsies are not recommended. If bone biopsies are taken, samples should be decalcified using a surface decalcification procedure only.