Dear Kathy and Lori, We also do lots of work for outside clients (>2k/year) and many of the samples are sent over the weekend. Most of the blood and bone marrow samples are collected in ACD-Solution A which works really well as long as it's not partially filled. The pH will be too low in a short filled specimen. Heparin is choice #2, and EDTA is last because of the beating it puts on myeloid elements (lymphomas don't suffer as much though). Tissues, FNA's, and fluids are best preserved if kept intact and put in RPMI. As long as they are not terribly necrotic, we routinely have viabilities >80% even after 2 or more days. Refrigerate everything until processing. If shipped, use an ice pack that is not directly in contact with the specimen. Even with these requirements we still work on Saturday mornings but specimen rejection from low viability is less than 2% based on last years' records. Good luck, Bruce Greig Flow Cytometry Vanderbilt Univ. Med.Center Nashville, TN. 37232 (615)322-2682
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