Clinical Resources
Sample Requirements for Clinical Services
Sample Requirements, Labelling, and Shipping
Please refer to the relevant table below to see the accepted sample types and sample requirements for each of our clinical services.
Specimen Required
Specimen Container
Storage and Shipment Conditions
3-5 ml Peripheral Whole Blood
K2 Potassium Salt of EDTA tube (Purple Lid, cat no. 367838)
Store whole blood samples in the fridge (2-8°C) and transport at room temperature within 48 hrs of sample collection. EDTA Blood specimens must not spend any more than 5 days in refrigerated conditions (2-8°C) before being processed by the laboratory. Longer delays will lead to partial degradation and lower yields of analyte.
Genomic DNA
DNA concentration must be ≥20ng/µl and sample volume must be ≥100 µl
1.5ml screw cap micro tube
Store genomic DNA in TE buffer. Store long term in the freezer (-10°C to -25°C) or short term in the fridge (2-8°C). DNA samples can be shipped at ambient temperature in a 1.5ml screw cap micro tube.
Specimen Required
Specimen Container
Storage and Shipment Conditions
7-10ml Maternal Peripheral Whole Blood
STRECK Cell-Free DNA Blood Collect Tube (Cat no.15073345)
Store and transport at room temperature. The time between blood collection and initial plasma isolation in the laboratory should not exceed 5 days. Therefore, samples must be transported to the laboratory on the same day as blood collection. Exceeding the aforementioned storage times can negatively impact individual specimen failure rates.
Do not freeze
Specimen Required
Specimen Container
Storage and Shipment Conditions
Blood (min. 1ml)
EDTA Tube
Store whole blood samples in the fridge (2-8°C) and transport at room temperature within 48 hrs of sample collection. EDTA Blood specimens must not spend any more than 5 days in refrigerated conditions (2-8°C) before being processed by the laboratory. Longer delays will lead to partial degradation and lower yields of analyte.
Saliva (min. 2ml)
Oragene OG500/OG600 Tube
Room Temperature
Specimen Required
Specimen Container
Storage and Shipment Conditions
Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue
Room Temperature (and shipped in protective slide holders)
Cascade Testing
Specimen Required
Specimen Container
Storage and Shipment Conditions
Blood (min. 1ml)
EDTA Tube
Store whole blood samples in the fridge (2-8°C) and transport at room temperature within 48 hrs of sample collection. EDTA Blood specimens must not spend any more than 5 days in refrigerated conditions (2-8°C) before being processed by the laboratory. Longer delays will lead to partial degradation and lower yields of analyte.
Buccal Swab
Buccal swab collection tube included in Genseq’s sample collection kit.
Room Temperature
Saliva
Saliva collection tube included in Genseq’s sample collection kit.
Room Temperature
Sample Collection and Transportation
For Gene Panel Tests, you may collect the samples using your own tubes.For PrenatalSEQ, samples must be collected using a PrenatalSEQ Sample Collection Kit which can be ordered here.
To make sample transportation as seamless as possible, Genseq have partnered with First Direct Medical Couriers. Sample pickups can be arranged at regular intervals or on an ad hoc basis. Contact us today to learn more.
Sample Labelling
It is of utmost importance that all specimens sent to Genseq are labelled in a manner that provides an unequivocal link with the patient from whom they are collected.All Specimens must be clearly labelled with:
- Patient’s full name (i.e., first name and surname)
- Patient’s Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY)
The details on the tube must be an exact match with the details on the test request form and consent form.
Unlabelled specimen tubes will NOT be processed and may be either destroyed or returned to their source if known.