Cytogenetics Website
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take to get a result?
Transportation requirements for all specimens?
What should be done with a sample taken late in the day?
What on-call cover is provided?
What bank-holiday cover is provided?
Why do I have to provide the patient’s address/postcode?
How much blood is required for cytogenetic chromosome analysis?
How much blood is required for a breakage syndrome?
What number do I need to ring to get a DNA result?
What information about a patients genotype will karyotyping provide?
What is the smallest size of genetic change that G-banding can detect?
What additional tests are available?
What packaging is required for samples?
How should urgent samples be sent to the laboratory?
What FISH tests are provided?
What tests are included in the MLPA microdeletion test?
What samples do I need to send for the MLPA microdeletion test?
What do I do with a tissue sample when I have no tissue transport medium?
What tube should I use to collect blood in?
Help! I don’t have a Cytogenetics request card.
Can I send paraffin sections?
What times are covered at weekends?
I am a patient, can I have my result?
The patient has just had a transfusion, when can I take blood for cytogenetic analysis?
Is old transport medium ok for marrows, tissues and tumours?
Can the laboratory send material to Porton Down?
What are the criteria for sub-telomeric screening?
Which cases are being screened by array-CGH?
How long do the laboratory store samples for?
Can we FISH frozen sections?
Can H&E stained slides be FISHed?
Can we send a sample that has been in our fridge for 5 days?