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Sending a Sample

Consent	All genetic testing requires consent; it is the responsibility of the referring clinician to obtain informed consent. By sending a sample to the laboratory it is understood that consent has been given for the test and DNA storage
Sample Types	All Blood samples - 5ml in EDTA; 1ml in EDTA for neonates and infants   Mouthwash/buccal cell samples are suitible for some tests - please contact the laboratory for details   Amniotic fluid and chorionic villus (CVS) samples - please contact the laboratory prior to sending prenatal samples   Fixed tumour tissue samples - for pharmacogenetic tests; other tissue samples - please contact the laboratory   Please label each sample with three identifiers and the date of collection   Note: if patient has had a blood transfusion wait at least two weeks before taking the blood sample (put transfusion date on request form)
Request Form	Sample Reception All samples must be accompanied by a request form with the following information clearly given:   Patient's full name Date of birth NHS number, hospital number and/or genetics number Sample Name of referring clinician and hospital (no initials please) Date sample taken Clinical details and test required Family history   Request forms are available from the laboratory on request or can can be downloaded below:   General request form KRAS gene analysis request form EGFR gene anaysis request form Tumour analysis request form Cardiac Genetics Request Form
Packaging	All Samples must be packaged such that the patient confidentiality is maintained and leaks/contamination of courier is prevented; high risk samples, such as HIV or hepatitis B/C, must be clearly identified. First class post must be used and all packages must conform to current regulations on transport of biological samples - more details   Send Samples to: Sample Reception Institute of Medical Genetics Univeristy Hospital of Wales Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW      Tel: +44(0)2920 742641   Samples should arrive in the laboratory as soon as possible, ideally before 17:00 on the day of sampling. They can be refrigerated overnight if necessary but please do not freeze. Please not that the quality of extracted DNA will be affected if the sample is collected in the wrong anticoagulant/container, exposed to extreme temperature or delayed in transit - this may cause the test to fail. If molecular and cytogenetics tests are needed, separate EDTA and lithium hepatin samples are required, but they can be packages together.