Cytogenetics Website
Solid Tissue samples 
Tissue Section
Regional Cytogenetics Department
St James’s Hospital
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Head of section: Alison Birch
Telephone: 0113 206 6958
Email: alison.birch@leedsth.nhs.uk
Reasons for Referral
• Spontaneous loss of pregnancy.
• Intra uterine and neonatal death.
• Termination of pregnancy following an abnormal ultra sound scan.
• Termination of pregnancy following abnormal prenatal diagnosis.
• Phenotype suggestive of chromosome abnormality.
• Confirmation or diagnosis of mosaic chromosome abnormalities.
• Cultures will also be established for the study of genetic disease.. These samples must be accompanied by a covering letter from the referring clinician to identify where the sample is sent. A contact name and address for invoicing purposes should also be provided.
• DNA or cell storage.
Tissues Required
1) Products of conception; samples of cord and/or placenta; post-mortem samples of skin, lung, cartilage etc (foetal samples).
2) A full thickness skin sample (biopsies from live patients).
Please note that, due to restrictions of the Human Tissue Act, whole foetuses cannot be accepted by the laboratory and will be returned to the referrer without processing. Products of conception containing recognisable foetal parts will be returned for burial/disposal once appropriate material has been processed.
Samples collected into formalin, those that are obviously infected, and samples which are excessively delayed in transit are unsuitable for cytogenetic studies and no attempt will be made to culture such specimens.
• A completed referral card must accompany all samples.
Sample Transport
Fetuses are not accepted by the laboratory and, if sent, will be returned.
• Samples should be collected into a sterile Universal container containing culture medium (Ham's F10) and antibiotics (see ordering medium page). A supply of these tubes can be obtained from the laboratory on request.
• If no transport medium is available it is possible to send the tissue in sterile isotonic saline, or in a dry sterile vessel. These samples should be sent to the laboratory without delay.
• Samples should not be frozen, exposed to excess heat or stored in formalin.
• Samples should be addressed to
Cytogenetics Unit,
St. James’s Hospital,
Beckett Street,
Leeds
LS9 7TF
• Cytogenetic analysis requires living cells. Please ensure that the sample reaches us as quickly as possible (within 48 hours). First class post is satisfactory.
• If there is a delay in transit please store the sample at 4°C (in a refrigerator).
• Please try to avoid sending samples at weekends or bank holidays.
ALL PACKAGES MUST CONFORM TO POST OFFICE REGULATIONS
(Copies are available from the Post Office)
Reporting of Results
• The reporting time is dependent upon rate of cell growth in culture, but generally results are available within 4 weeks to comply with national reporting time guidelines.
• If cell culture is unsuccessful then a report will be issued within 21 days.
• Samples referred following cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy (usually trisomy or monosomy) may be confirmed using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) techniques only.
• Results are sent to the referring clinician and/or pathologist. Complex abnormal results are usually telephoned prior to the written report being sent and the interpretation and implication discussed.
• In response to telephone enquiries, only normal results or those which confirm a previous finding are given to a clinicians secretary or the clinic sister. All other results are only given to clinicians or faxed reports are sent to designated contacts.
• Please note that, although every effort is made to use suitable material for culture and analysis, it is not always possible to avoid analysing maternal cells where the material used is of extra-embryonic origin (eg. placenta). Samples which are subject to this limitation will be reported with appropriate interpretive comments.
Last Updated 24.09.10