Sending samples

Leeds Clinical Molecular Genetics Laboratory Website

Sending Samples to the Laboratory

Normal Opening Times:

The laboratory is open for business and enquiries during normal working hours:

Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 17:30

There is no weekend, bank holiday, or on-call service for out of hours work

Request Cards

For a supply of request cards please contact the DNA laboratory. Request cards can also be printed after downloading the document below:

Standard DNA analysis request card (pdf)

Referral of samples

For the majority of tests, blood samples are preferred and 3-5ml should be collected in EDTA tubes. For other types of sample please contact the laboratory (please note that best-practice recommends that a maternal sample should accompany any cord blood or prenatal sample e.g. cvs, amniotic fluid, foetal blood or tissue).

For diseases where both Cytogenetic analysis and DNA analysis may be carried out (eg. Fragile X, Prader Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome) a sample in EDTA is required for DNA analysis and a separate Lithium Heparin is required for cytogenetic analysis (see cytogenetic website for details).

Clotted blood is unsuitable for analysis.

If further testing is required on a sample already stored in the laboratory please request this in writing either by fax or post.

Sample Labelling

In line with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust policy the minimum identifiers required on a Specimen container for sample acceptance are:

Full Name (forename and surname)

One other unique identifier (Date of Birth/Unit No./NHS No.)

All specimen containers must be clearly labelled by hand.

If the specimen container does not have a label, a blank label can be hand written and attached.

PAS (addressograph) labels must not be used.

All demand printed labels must be signed and dated to be acceptable

A fully completed referral card including the identifiers that appear on the sample tube must accompany the sample.

Any Samples that do not meet the above labelling standards (or samples where the information is illegible) may be rejected

Referral Information

In order for a sample to be analysed and reported, we require the following MINIMUM information to be provided in the referral:

· Patient Forename

· Patient Surname

· NHS Number

· 1st Line of Patient Address

· Patient Postcode

· Patient Date of Birth

· GP name (surname and first initial)

· GP Facility (including postcode)

· Referrer Name (surname and first initial) if not the same as GP

· Referrer Facility

· Hospital Number (if applicable)

· Disease to be tested

The collection of this information is essential and it is the responsibility of the referrer to provide it.

Please note: For non-NHS referrals (private or referrals from outside the UK), it is not necessary to provide the NHS number and GP name/address. For these referrals it is essential that a billing address is included with the referral details.

We will NOT perform testing on samples that are referred with incomplete information. Seriously mislabelled samples may be discarded. Other samples will have DNA extracted and stored until missing information is received. This will obviously have a significant impact on the length of time taken to receive test results.

Packaging instructions

Please send samples directly to the laboratory. If necessary most samples can be refrigerated at +4 degree Celsius for a few days without affecting quality. In general samples should not be frozen, however if this is necessary, please discuss this with the laboratory in advance - it will be necessary to send a frozen sample by same day delivery on dry ice.

All clinical specimens, blood and other samples, are potential biohazards and must be packaged to comply with the current regulations on the transport and postage of biological materials. For further details see: http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/biologagents.pdf . Samples should be packaged in a way as to maintain patient confidentiality and prevent leakage and/or contamination to couriers and porters.

Where samples are known to pose a specific high risk (eg. HIV, Hepatitis B/C) the nature of the risk must be clearly marked on the referral card. The referral card and specimen container should clearly labelled (for example with danger of infection tape) to indicate its high risk nature. Please contact the laboratory with any queries regarding the appropriateness of sending any potentially high risk samples.

Please note:

The quality and quantity of extracted DNA will be affected if samples are collected in the wrong containers, stored at extreme temperatures or delayed in transit. This may result in the failure of the test.

The interpretation of results depends on the diagnosis of affected individuals, identification of samples and biological relationships of the individuals being correct.

For advice on referral to Clinical Genetics and general advice on patients please contact the Department of Clinical Genetics.

For advice on cytogenetic referrals please contact the Cytogenetics laboratory.