If being ordered for diagnostic purposes:

Order 70012 / Surgical Pathology Consultation and then request the stains.

If being ordered for prognostic purposes:

Specimen Type: Breast carcinoma

Preferred: A paraffin-embedded tissue block containing in-situ, invasive or metastatic breast carcinoma tissue that has been fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin within 1 hour from surgical collection time and for a total of 6 to 72 hours and shipped at ambient temperature

Acceptable: 3 unstained sections, containing carcinoma, on charged slides cut at 4 microns <1 month ago and shipped at ambient temperature

Specimen Type: Non-breast carcinoma

Preferred: A paraffin-embedded tissue block containing carcinoma tissue that has been fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and shipped at ambient temperature

Acceptable: 3 unstained sections, containing carcinoma, on charged slides cut at 4 microns <1 month ago and shipped at ambient temperature

Container/Tube: Pathology Packaging Kit (Supply T554)

Collection Instructions:

1. Submit paraffin-embedded carcinoma tissue.

2. Include accompanying pathology report stating the final diagnosis. If not available, a preliminary diagnosis is acceptable.

3. Attach the green pathology address label included in the kit to the outside of the transport container.

Additional Information:

1. Information regarding fixative used, time to fixation and duration of fixation is required. When ordering 89213 / Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor, Semi-Quantitative Immunohistochemistry, Manual, the following questions, as stated on the order form or presented electronically, must be answered:

-"Was specimen fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin within 1 hour from surgical collection time? Yes, No, or Unknown."

-"Has specimen been fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for 6 to 72 hours? Yes, No, or Unknown."

2. According to the College of American Pathologists (CAP)/American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines, estrogen/progesterone receptor protein immunohistochemical test results are only valid for nondecalcified, paraffin-embedded specimens fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin within 1 hour from surgical collection time and for a total time of 6 to 72 hours. Delay to fixation, under- or overfixation may affect these results.

3. Paraffin blocks will be returned with final report.

4. Estrogen/progesterone receptor testing is not appropriate and not performed for cases of lobular carcinoma in situ.

Forms: If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

Pathology Test Request Form (T246) (http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/it-mmfiles/pathology-request-form.pdf)

Oncology Test Request Form (T729) (http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/it-mmfiles/oncology-request-form.pdf)