Specimen collection and storage for diagnostic molecular pathology investigation.

The success of the newest discipline in the diagnostic clinical pathology laboratory, molecular pathology, is dependent on proper collection and storage of both the original and processed (nucleic acid) specimen. This issue will grow in importance as test volumes increase in the diagnostic molecular pathology laboratory. This review is a distillation of a literature review by the Patient Preparation and Specimen Handling Committee of the College of American Pathologists. It describes specific collection, storage, and anticoagulant or preservative requirements based on the diagnostic molecular technique and/or specimen type used for analysis. This review serves as a guide for clinical laboratories interested in appropriate collection and storage of specimens to be used in nucleic acid-based analysis.