Necessary Information

1. All specimens, patient history, and requests should be clearly labeled with correct patient information, and case number.
2. Collection date and patient date of birth are required.
3. All specimens must be labeled with specimen type.
4. The name and phone number of the ordering physician and a brief history are essential to achieve a consultation.

Specimen Required

Tissues should be submitted in formalin. A core and clot are considered ideal.

Specimen Type: Bone marrow core biopsy
Container/Tube: 10% Formalin
Collection Instructions:
1. Place biopsy core in 10% formalin immediately after collection.
2. Fix in 10% formalin for a minimum of 1 hour before decalcification.
3. Core biopsy decalcified for 1 hour before standard tissue processing.

Specimen Type: Bone marrow aspirate clot
Container/Tube: 10% Formalin
Collection Instructions:
1. Place 0.5 mL bone marrow aspirate in clot tube.
2. After clot has formed, place clot in 10% formalin.

Specimen Type: Wright Stained peripheral blood smears and CBC
Container/Tube: Transport in plastic slide holders.
Preferred: Fresh prep fingerstick slide; include CBC values
Acceptable: Slides made from whole blood in EDTA, made within 8 hours of collection
Collection Instructions:
1. Prepare good quality smear of even thickness from fingerstick.
2. Alternately prepare good quality smear from EDTA vial within 8 hours of collection.
3. Submit unstained and unfixed slides.