Our staff at Genetics Associates, Inc. is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to physicians and their patients. Dr. Dev, Dr. Crawford, and Dr. Stewart are ABMG certified in cytogenetics and are Tennessee State licensed. Dr. Crawford is also board certified in molecular cytogenetics. Microscopic analysis is performed by NCA certified and Tennessee State licensed cytogenetic technologists. We are also very fortunate to have an amazing support staff who keeps things operating smoothly. Feel free to contact us with your questions and concerns.
Follow up genetic counseling is available for all abnormal results. Our laboratory directors are available to provide basic genetic counseling to either the physician or the patient. Genetics Associates, Inc. can also recommend various genetic counselors for consultation.
Genetics Associates, Inc. will make available scientific literature on general cytogenetic testing to all physicians and patients. This literature briefly describes the most common chromosome anomalies and provides a limited list of the tests we offer. This can be provided to clients at no charge. Contact our laboratory to obtain copies of this information.
GAI Lab Requisitionhttp://www.psychesystems.com/netoutreachgai
Complete list of available probes coming soon.
Fish requisitions coming soon.
Constitutional Fish Library
Cancer Fish Library
For detailed collection information, please roll the cursor over each specimen type:
- Chorionic VilliChorionic Villi
Please contact our laboratory prior to collecting a sample. For local samples, a technologist may be provided to verify that an adequate sample has been obtained.
When possible, obtain 10-20 mg of villi in sterile transport medium (provided by the laboratory, when requested).
Complete the requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results can be expected in 7-10 days.
Preliminary result can be expected in 1-3 days. - Amniotic Fluid Amniotic Fluid
Clean immediate area with Betadine and remove any residue.
Discard fist mL of fluid drawn or reserve for other testing.
Draw 15-20 mL of fluid in sterile centrifuge tubes (provided by the laboratory, when requested).
Complete requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results can be expected in 7-10 days.
Aneuvysion FISH available upon request.
Aneuvysion results are available in 1 day. - Solid TissueSolid Tissue
Skin (constitutional)
Clean the immediate area with alcohol.
Take a deep 3mm3 biopsy (small pea size) including dermal layer and transfer to a tube containing transport medium, balanced salt solution, or sterile injectable saline.
Tumor and Lymph Node (Hematologic)
When possible, collect the solid tumor or lymph node in a sterile container.
When collected in a non-sterile condition, rinse the specimen with a sterile balanced salt solution, transport media, or sterile injectable saline. Transfer specimen to a sterile container containing any of the above mentioned solutions.
DO NOT FREEZE. DO NOT ADD FORMALIN.
Complete requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results for lymph nodes can be expected in 2-4 days. Final results for solid tumors can be expected in 7-10 days. Final results for skin can be expected in 7-10 days. - Products of ConceptionProducts of Conception
Sterile techniques should be followed as much as possible.
Abortus Tissue
When possible, collect the abortus tissue in a sterile container.
When collected in a non-sterile condition, rinse the specimen with a sterile balanced salt solution, transport media, or sterile injectable saline. Transfer specimen to a sterile container containing any of the above mentioned solutions.
The specimen should include, by order of preference, one or more of the following:
villi, placenta or placental membrane, recognizable fetal parts.
Autopsy: Stillborn or infant
Preferred tissues in descending order: lung, kidney, thymus, skin.
For Stillborns:
Placenta containing chorionic villi is the preferred tissue; include other tissues also. (See above).
DO NOT FREEZE. DO NOT ADD FORMALIN.
Complete requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results can be expected in 7-14 days. - BloodBlood
Clean the immediate area with alcohol.
Use preservative free SODIUM heparin as an anti-coagulant.
Children to adults: Collect 2-5 mL.
Newborn (birth to 8 days):
Attempt to draw 1-2 mL within 12 hours of birth (the earlier the better). This timely collection permits a 1 day culture. Contact our laboratory immediately for pickup in the Nashville area.
PUBS (Fetal Blood):
Collect 1-2 mL. Contact our laboratory immediately.
Complete requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
List any dysmorphic features and a tentative diagnosis.
Specify request for chromosome analysis, high resolution, FISH, and/or microarray. Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results can be expected in 3-7 days.
Preliminary results on STAT (i.e. newborn and PUBS) can be expected in 24 hours. - CancerCancer
Bone Marrow
Clean the immediate area with Betadine and remove any residue.
Collect marrow aspirate in a sterile vacutainer tube containing SODIUM heparin or RPMI 1640 media with SODIUM heparin.
Children to adults: 2-5 mL.
Newborn: 0.5 mL or more
Pleural Effusions/Ascites/Fine Needle Aspirate
Collect in sterile transport medium with RPMI.
Complete requisition form (provided by the laboratory).
Specify request for chromosome analysis, high resolution, FISH, and/or microarray. Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Store specimen at room temperature until courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Final results can be expected in 2-5 days.
Preliminary STAT results can be expected in 1 day.
Note: For tumor and lymph node specimens, see solid tumor section. - UrineUrine
Collect at least 33 mL of urine in a sterile container.
Mix the urine at a 2:1 ratio with either CarboWax or PreservCyt.
Refrigerate the sample until the courier arrives. AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
Call Genetics Associates, Inc. at 615.327.4532 or 800.331.GENE, for local sample pick-up.
Final results can be expected in 7-10 days.
Genetics Associates, Inc. prides itself on its prompt turn-around times. The following lists average turn-around times to a final report in consecutive business days:
Bone marrow ......................3 days*
Newborn Blood....................5 days*
Peripheral Blood .................5 days
Amniotic Fluid ....................9 days
Chorionic Villi .....................9 days
Products of Conception..... 10 days
*Preliminary telephone reports are available in 24-72 hours.
Contact our lab for more information.
GAI Lab Requisitionhttp://www.psychesystems.com/netoutreachgai
Billing:
For any billing questions, please contact our business office at 615-327-4532. Our office hours are 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
The Internet offers a variety of websites devoted to health-related topics. It is our desire at GAI to supply a list of websites that you can use as a complimentary source of information. Hopefully you have read our disclaimer (at the bottom of this page), but if you have not, we ask that you do so before you enter any link or make any decisions regarding h ealthcare. The following is a list of Web links / Websites that may prove useful to anyone with a medical question. The Web links are not in any particular order.
Psyche Systems: http://www.psychesystems.com/netoutreachgai
National Cancer Institute: http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/
Vanderbilt Cancer Center: http://www.vanderbiltcancercenter.org/
Medline: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics_s.html
The American Cancer Society: http://cancer.org/
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: http://www.stjude.org/
Medicine: Online http://www.med.com/
Oncolink: http://oncolink.upenn.edu/
Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology: http://www.infobiogen.fr/services/chromcancer/
Geneclinic: http://www.geneclinics.org/index.html