Bcr-abl Translocation for acute lymphocytic leukemia

Test Includes:

Philadelphia Chromosome.

Specimen:

Whole blood or bone marrow.

Volume:

7 mL EDTA whole blood or 1-2 mL EDTA bone marrow.

Minimum Volume:

3 mL whole blood

Container:

Lavender-stopper (EDTA) tubes.

Collection:

Submit at room temperature using Leukemia/Lymphoma Specimen Transport Kit (supplied by the Hospital). Specimens should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of collection. Indicate date and time of collection on test request form.

Storage:

Maintain specimen at room temperature.

Causes for Rejection:

Specimen frozen; specimen in formalin or other fixative; clotted specimen; hemolysis; blood more than 72 hours old; bone marrow aspirates older than 5 days; bags or bottles of body fluid or bronchial washings

Use:

Detect Philadelphia chromosome; monitor effectiveness of treatment; detect minimal residual disease.

Contraindications:

This test should not be selected for CML patients.

Methodology:

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) analysis.

Additional Information:

Approximately 5% of childhood ALLs and 25% of adult ALLs carry a bcr-abl chromosomal translocation t(9;22) which is associated with poor prognosis.