Blood Collection and Shipping Instructions – Including Cord Blood
| Exceptions: | Blood is not accepted if the patient has ever received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant/stem cell transplant. Cultured fibroblasts are required. GeneDx can provide a punch biopsy kit and can culture fibroblasts on site, as needed. |
| Kits: | Complimentary blood kits are available for US and Canadian clients. To order kits, please visit www.genedx.com/supplies or email zebras@genedx.com. Safety Data Sheet – EDTA Safety Data Sheet – Heparin |
| Volume: | One EDTA (lavender top) tube containing 2-5 mL whole sterile blood. Several tests usually can be performed on one 3 mL blood specimen. 3-5 mL is the preferred volume for adults but 1-2 mL is acceptable for infants. |
| Labeling: | Label with the patient name plus a second identifier such as date of birth, specimen ID or medical record number. If Cord Blood, state so on both the tube and the paperwork. |
| Stability: | Can be refrigerated up to 7 days before shipping. Blood specimens older than 7 days can still be shipped; they will be tested if the yield and quality of DNA permit. |
| Rejection: | Blood specimens will be rejected if frozen, hemolyzed or clotted. |
| Shipping: | Ideal handling is to ship immediately at ambient temperature for overnight delivery with arrival Monday-Saturday. Specimens can be refrigerated for 7 days before shipping. In hot weather a cool pack can be enclosed. |
Ship to:
GeneDx
207 Perry Parkway
Gaithersburg MD 20877
Phone: 1-301-519-2100