SPECIMEN PROCESSING and HANDLING

Collection: Amniocentesis. Send sample to the laboratory immediately after collection. Collections from tracheal or pharyngeal aspirates from newborns are acceptable. Samples collected vaginally are satisfactory only if care is taken to obtain a “clean” sample (void of blood or meconium), and should only be used if the fluid is free flowing and carefully tapped. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.