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Cytogenetics, Postmortem/Stillbirth (Greater Than 20 Week Gestation)

Important Note

  • Histology personnel must be notified in advance at ext.75095 of the procedure or in the case of fetal loss as soon as the test is requested by the physician.
  • RPMI tubes are available in the pass-through specimen refrigerator located in the main lab at BMH and in the MHE lab upon request.
  • After the specimen is collected, it should be brought immediately to Histology accompanied by:
    • Extra labels 
    • Washington University Cytogenetics Constitutional Form. (available from Histology)The cytogenetics form should include: 
      • Patient’s name,
      • Date and time of specimen collection,
      • DOB,
      • Gestational age of Pregnancy,
      • Testing requested,
      • Any other pertinent clinical findings.

Additional Codes

Epic# -

O1596662

Performing Lab(s)

Memorial-Belleville & Memorial-Shiloh

Specimen Requirement (s)

  1. Obtain one tube of RPMI transport media from the pass-through refrigerator located in the main lab at BMH or the lab at MES.
  2. To preserve the viability of the specimen, the tissue should be collected and placed in RPMI as soon as possible, not to exceed more than one hour post-delivery.
  3. Using sterile scissor and forceps collect a sample of the placenta including the fetal surface (approximately 1cm by 1 cm) and place in the RPMI transport media.
  4. The remainder of the placenta may be placed in formalin and transported to the laboratory.
  5. Label tube with a specimen label and write on the specimen type (placenta), date, time and the collectors initials.
  6. Transport the RPMI transport tube immediately to Histology for refrigeration.
  7. If the placenta has already been placed in formalin, a sample of fetal skin (approximately 1×1 cm) from the lower back of the fetus may be used. Placental tissue in RPMI transport media.
  8. Requisition: Surgical Pathology

Unacceptable Conditions

  • Specimens placed in formalin.
  • Frozen specimens

Transport and Stability

Monday through Friday

Hours: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

  • Deliver all specimens to Histology/Pathology department at BMH or the lab at MES.

All other times and holidays – deliver specimens to the main lab at BMH or MES.

 

Laboratory note: If specimens are delivered to the main lab on a weekday after 1600 or on a weekend, refrigerate the specimens and deliver to Histology the next morning for processing and send out