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.