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Molecular Normal Blood Control

Microsatellite Instability by PCR, MSI Testing, MOLCON

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231010

Department

Molecular Pathology

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One 5.0 mL whole blood in Lavender-top EDTA tube. (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not freeze specimens. Maintain whole blood refrigerated (preferred) (2-8°C or 36-46°F) or at room temperature (20-26°C) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole blood refrigerated (preferred) (2-8°C or 36-46°F) or at room temperature (20-26°C). (Minimum: 1.0 mL whole blood)

Rejection Criteria

• Frozen specimens.
• Centrifuged specimens.
• Mislabeled or unlabeled tubes.
• Specimens collected in heparin tubes (Green-top), clot tubes (Red-top), or SST tubes.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Clients will be notified of any cancellations of testing.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Peripheral Blood EDTA:
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 72 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days

Specimen Storage (DNA post testing):

Frozen (-70 to -80°C): Indefinitely

Laboratory

Royal Oak Molecular Pathology Laboratory

Performed

See details for microsatellite instability (MSI) testing.

Clinical Utility

When a clinician requests MSI testing on a surgical specimen, suitable samples of DNA derived from both tumor tissue and normal tissue are required to perform the assay. If a suitable sample of normal tissue cannot be located within the department surgical pathology archives, a request will be submitted to the clinician to provide the lab with a blood specimen from the patient that can be extracted for a source of non-neoplastic DNA. If the clinician declines to provide this sample, the MSI testing will be cancelled.

Contacts

Last Updated

10/6/2025