Extract and Hold

Health care professionals can now request 'extract and hold' of a sample ahead of a clinical test order. We will process the sample and hold the DNA until a clinical test is ordered (within one year).

Why offer this?

The extract and hold service enables patients and providers to collect a sample for genetic testing while giving them additional time to decide on their testing strategy.

How can I order this?

Order through our portal, myPrevent, or our Standard Test Requisition Form. The test code is 14033.

Can I order Extract & Hold as an add-on test?

No. Our process was designed to be ordered before testing and is not appropriate as an add-on service.

What does it cost?

The extract and hold option costs $300 as a nonrefundable deposit towards the total cost of any PreventionGenetics test ordered within 12 months of when the specimen is received.

How is extract and hold billed?

Institutional bill or patient self-pay.

What samples are suitable for extract and hold?

We are able to accept samples that are validated for our clinical testing. See our Specimen Requirements & Shipping page. Also, please note that not all sample types are validated for every testing method. For example, saliva and buccal samples are not currently validated for tests performed on a whole genome platform.

Extract and hold specimens are not suitable for cell culture or karyotype following extraction. Consider ordering cell culture first if those methods are needed.

See our Specimen Requirements & Shipping page for details on postmortem specimens.

What about New York samples?

When a test order is received from a qualified health care provider, we will require the standard NY paperwork. We do not need special consent for an extract and hold request.

Can you hold DNA that has already been extracted?

Yes. We are happy to hold DNA that was extracted elsewhere following our normal procedures.

How long will you retain a DNA specimen that is extracted and held?

We can guarantee storage for one year. The intent of the extract and hold service is to allow testing in the near future. Since we cannot make long-term guarantees on sample retention, we encourage providers to order testing as soon as they determine what is medically indicated.

For the past 20 years we have not discarded residual DNA systematically unless required by law (i.e. New York state requirements). We have no immediate intentions to do so, but we cannot guarantee long-term storage beyond a year.

What are the procedures around storing remaining DNA after routine clinical testing?

Once testing is completed, the normalized DNA is not retained, nor are the original collection tubes that the specimen was sent in (i.e. blood tube). We extract DNA and retain residual stock DNA once testing is completed.

How can I get more information about this service?

Please contact us with questions.