Flow Cytometry Specimen Collection and Transport

Immunodefieciency Panel: CD4 Count, B cells, T cells, NK cells

Specimen Requirements: 1 mL of whole blood in an EDTA Vacutainer tube

Handling Instructions: Store at room temperature, must be delivered within 24 hours

Turn Around Time Average: 1-3 days

Reference Values: Absolute CD4 count = 490 - 1436. Others provided on report or request.

Flow Cytometry for Leukemia/ Lymphoma

Specimen Requirements: 2 mL blood or bone marrow, lymph node, cytology specimens. Contact pathologist for questions regarding specimen collection.

Handling Instructions: Keep at room temperature and deliver to the laboratory immediately (must be submitted fresh). Include clinical information.

Turn Around Time Average: 24 hours

Specimen Transport

The Flow Cytometry Laboratory is staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services are not regularly offered on major holidays. Specimens must arrive by 2:00pm to be processed the same day.

For transport within the 7 county metro area, call the Flow laboratory at 612-873-3021 to arrange for a courier.

Address the outside container as follows:

Flow Cytometry
Hennepin County Medical Center
2nd Floor North, Clinical Laboratory, Triage
701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

All specimens should be left at room temperature and protected from temperature extremes during transport to the laboratory.