ALK

DESCRIPTION – ALK stands for anaplastic lymphoma kinase. Most of the ALK- positive cancer are in non-small cell lung cancer. ALK gene helps in the development of gut and nervous system.

CLINICAL UTILITY – to identify NSCLC patients who can derive benefits from crizotinib therapy.

METHODOLOGY – fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

TURN AROUND TIME – 6 days

PATIENT PREPRATION –

COLLECT – tumor tissue

SPECIMEN PREPARATION – formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue block. Protect the slides from excessive heat.

STORAGE/TRANSPORT TEMPERATURE – room temperature

STABILITY – ambient: indefinitely; refrigerated: indefinitely

UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS – alternate fixatives and decalcified specimens

MRP – 7000.00

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS – sample needs to be received by Monday only by 9am