Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: Hematopathology Shipping Kit, containing: 1 gold and white box, 1 foam insert, 2 formalin containers (1 for the core and 1 for the clot). One zip-lock bag (for both jars) and 2 slide mailers containing 5 slides each (4 aspirate smears, 4 touch preps, 2 peripheral smears). Also included: 2 green-top (sodium heparin) tubes, 1 lavender-top (EDTA) tube, 1 cold pack, and 1 biohazard zip-lock bag.

Specimen Volume: 6 mL (minimum volume: 0.7 mL of bone marrow in each tube, at least 1 green-top tube and 1 lavender-top tube)
Collection Instructions:

1. Aspirate bone marrow.

2. Transfer 2 mL of bone marrow to 1 lavender-top (EDTA) tube and 2 green-top (sodium heparin) tubes.

3. Transfer bone marrow clot to first container with 10% neutral-buffered formalin.

4. Transfer bone marrow core to second container with 10% neutral-buffered formalin.

Note: Label tube/containers appropriately (bone marrow, bone marrow clot, and bone marrow core).

Forms: Gold test request form

Include client, patient, and billing information, along with patient history and selected test(s) ordered.

Peripheral Blood:

Container/Tube: Slides
Specimen Volume: 6 to 8 slides
Collection Instructions:

1. At patient bedside make 6 to 8 smears.

2. Allow smears to air dry.

3. Place unstained slides in slide mailer.

Note: Peripheral smear and results from a CBC (complete blood count) drawn <24 hours prior to collection of bone marrow are also required for interpretation.