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Test Description
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Test Name
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Cell Culture For Specialty Lab Tests |
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Synonym(s)
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Fibroblast Culture
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Description
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Tissue culture and specimen preparation for referral to outside laboratory for special testing. |
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Methodology
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Cells are cultured in nutrient medium, usually until confluent, but as specified by the specialty laboratory to which they will be sent. Cultures are delivered by courier or overnight shipping to specialty laboratory. Two reserve flasks of cells will be frozen in liquid nitrogen and maintained for one year at no additional charge. If storing of cells for longer than one year is requested, additional storage fees will be assessed. |
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Performed
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Daily (shipping Monday - Thursday). |
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Turnaround Time
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2 - 4 weeks; dependent on growth rate of cultured cells. |
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Specimen Requirements
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See Solid Tissue, Non-neoplastic, or Amniotic Fluid Cytogenetics for specimen requirements.
Note:
- Veripath is not responsible for inadequate or inappropriate billing information provided to the specialty laboratory.
- Prior to submitting the tissue specimen to Veripath for culture,
- Check with the specialty laboratory regarding any special billing requirements, and
- Confirm payment commitment for specialty laboratory testing by the institution submitting the specimen, the patient, or the patient’s insurance company
- The following information must be provided to Veripath within 3 days of submission of the tissue specimen for culture:
- The name, address and telephone number of the specialty laboratory to which the cultured cells are to be sent
- The test(s) that will be performed by the specialty laboratory
- Any special instructions from that laboratory
- Completed paperwork (such as requisition) that is required by the specialty laboratory to accompany the specimen
- Billing information to be provided to the specialty laboratory: either the contact name, address and phone number for institution-billing, or else complete demographic and insurance information for patient/3rd party billing.
- Clinical information if requested by the specialty laboratory
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| Rejection Criteria |
Frozen or grossly contaminated specimens. |
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CPT Code(s)
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Tissue: 88233
Amniotic fluid: 88235
Shipping: 99001
Additional flasks: 88233-TC each
Additional year of storage: 88240
Thaw and prep frozen cells: 88241
If mycoplasma testing is required by the specialty lab, add: 87109, 99001
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Reference Range
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See interpretive report. |
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Contact
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Cytogenetics Lab: (214) 645-7000
Customer Service: (214) 645-7057 or Toll Free (877) 887-8136 |
Last Modified: May 2, 2007 |
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