Minimal dimensions 3mm3, delivered to lab within 3 hours, or snap frozen and stored at -70 C until analysis. Blood or marrow samples may be refrigerated up to 48 hours until delivery except when testing for minimal residual leukemia in which case prompt delivery is essential. Many leukemias and lymphomas have genetic defects that are detectable by molecular methods. This tumor-specific defect contributes to disease pathogenesis. It also serves as a tumor marker that is useful for initial diagnosis and for monitoring tumor burden during therapy.
Affected patients are candidates for novel treatments.
Sequential samples can be analyzed during therapy to identify minimal residual disease. Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Brain lymphoma in AIDS patients. Distinguish latent virus from infectious virus. Monitor progression or resolution of EBV-related disease by EBV viral load assay of sequential blood samples.