Testing Frequently Asked Questions

PreventionGenetics accepts whole blood, purified DNA, cell cultures, and a number of other specimen types. Details are listed on our Specimen Requirements & Shipping page.

No, only one tube of the required 3 ml - 5 ml of blood will be sufficient to perform multiple tests. Blood should be collected in an EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube.

We require a minimum of 1 ml of whole blood in an EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube.

See our Specimen Requirements & Shipping page for more information. At room temperature or refrigerated, a blood specimen is stable for up to 8 days. Fresh blood specimens are preferred. If frozen, a blood specimen is stable for up to 1 month before shipping.

Yes, PreventionGenetics accepts purified DNA. We request that DNA be sent in a screw cap tube with at least 5µg – 10µg of purified DNA at a concentration of at least 20 ng/µl for NGS and Sanger tests and at least 5µg of purified DNA at a concentration of at least 100 ng/µl for gene centric aCGH, MLPA, and CMA tests, minimum 2 µg for limited specimens. For requests requiring more than one test, send an additional 5 µg DNA per test ordered when possible. We require that concentration, composition of the solute and identity of the specimen be clearly indicated on the DNA tube and/or Test Requisition Form. PreventionGenetics does not accept products of whole genome amplification or other amplification products.

We accept fetal DNA, fetal tissue, cultured fetal cells, or direct CVS/amniotic fluid. However, acceptable specimen type is dependent on the fetal testing requested. Culture and send at least two T25 flasks of confluent cells. Multiple test requests may also require additional flasks. Please contact us for details. Most tests can also be performed using 5 µg of purified DNA. Retention of a back-up cell culture is required for NextGen Sequencing (NGS) requests and strongly recommended for other prenatal testing requests. PreventionGenetics offers cell culturing. Cell culturing should be ordered separately if needed. Where possible, please ship prenatal specimens so that they will arrive at PreventionGenetics no later than Thursday in the work week. When ordering shipping labels for prenatal specimens or kits for prenatal parental specimens, please note "prenatal" in the comments field on the kit order page. A signed Health Care Provider's Statement, which can be found within our Prenatal Test Requisition Form & Provider Statement on our Forms page, is required for all prenatal tests with ongoing pregnancies. See our Prenatal Testing Guidelines for more information.

A completed Test Requisition Form, found on our Forms page, must accompany each specimen. Incomplete paperwork will delay testing.

See our Specimen Requirements & Shipping page for more information. Specimens should be shipped in a crushproof, insulated container. Label all specimen containers with the patient's name, date of birth, and/or ID number. At least two identifiers should be listed on specimen containers. Specimen deliveries are accepted Monday-Saturday for all specimen types. However, urgent and/or sensitive specimens, such as cell cultures, direct amniotic fluid, or direct chorionic villi, are preferred to arrive Monday-Thursday. Urgent/sensitive specimens shipped on Thursday should be marked for overnight delivery; those sent Friday should be marked for overnight and Saturday delivery. Contact us to make arrangements. All specimens should be accompanied by a completed Test Requisition Form, found on our Forms page.

PreventionGenetics
Attention: Diagnostic Lab
3800 S. Business Park Ave
Marshfield, WI 54449

For international clients- Attention: Ann Solatycki

We accept whole blood and DNA Monday-Saturday. Cell cultures and prenatal specimens are only accepted Monday-Thursday, and we prefer to be notified in advance of their arrival. PreventionGenetics is closed on major holidays.

We do not recommend shipping most specimen types by postal mail. They should be shipped by overnight express. Purified DNA may be shipped through postal mail.

Yes. We are pleased to offer clinical testing kits with paid return shipping for our US and Canadian clients. We can send kits internationally, but are unable to pay for return shipping for our international clients at this time. If you would like to order clinical testing kits, please use our electronic order form.

Please see our Turnaround Times page for details.

Yes, we offer STAT or RAPID options for most tests on our menu, including PGxome, Custom Panels, NGS panels,Sanger sequencing and gene-centric aCGH. Please see each Test Description and our Turnaround Times page for details.

All tests related to ongoing pregnancies are performed with an expedited TAT. Targeted prenatal tests for known familial variants are completed within 2 weeks on average. NGS panels are completed within 3 weeks on average. For more information on prenatal TAT by test method, please refer to the Prenatal Guidelines.

Additional tests can be ordered by faxing the Add-On Test Requisition Form to 715-384-3661. We will contact you if we require a new specimen to complete the requested testing.

Usually not. PreventionGenetics retains unused DNA from previous tests. If a blood specimen was originally sent, we nearly always have sufficient DNA to perform additional tests. If a limited amount of purified DNA was originally sent, or if the specimen originated in NY state, then a second specimen will often be required.

Yes, a detailed Test Description for each test is freely and easily available from our web site. Just search a test to begin.

We offer single (Test #100, $350), double (Test #200, $520) or triple (Test #300, $620) variant testing for any of the genes on our test menu. These tests are typically performed for relatives of the probands or for confirmation of test results from other labs. Most genes are fully developed in our laboratory and ready to order. There are, however, some genes that may require an additional 2-3 weeks for development. Search for your gene of interest on our Targeted Variants landing page for details.

Please specify the variant fully in the comments section at the bottom of page 1 of the Targeted Variant Test Requisition Form.

Yes, our exome based tests are validated to detect copy number variants. Genes and panels ordered using exome based sequencing panels now includes analysis of copy number variants.

PreventionGenetics offers a custom designed, high probe density, gene-centric aCGH test (our Test #600), which targets many of the genes on our test menu. Please specify the desired genes in the comments section at the bottom of page 1 of the Test Requisition Form.

If the family member was tested at an outside laboratory, we recommend that you submit a specimen from that individual to serve as a positive control. The positive control specimen will be tested free of charge, and no report will be provided. If a positive control is not provided, negative results will carry a limitation stating that PreventionGenetics did not have the opportunity to verify that we can detect the variant in this family. Positive controls are required for targeted prenatal testing.

Yes. Please indicate “interpret only XXXX gene” on the Test Requisition Form. The price will remain the list price. Free reflex testing to remaining genes on the panel is available if desired. Alternatively, a single gene can also be ordered on our Custom Panel.

If our PG-Select NextGen Sequencing panel is updated to offer additional genes, we will offer a panel update for a charge of $640. Please contact us to confirm that we have adequate DNA remaining and complete our Add-On Test Requisition Form, found on our Forms page. Specifying NextGen Sequencing panel of interest and "Update". The interpretation will include only the genes that have not been previously analyzed. CPT codes for newly added genes apply.

Contact us with questions.

Yes. If a single gene or any subset of genes is ordered on a panel, free reflex testing to remaining genes on the panel is available if desired. Reflex testing to PGxome from a Custom Panel is also available. See our Custom Panel Test Description for details.

Yes, identification number 52D2065132. The certificate is posted on our website.

Yes, CAP number 7185561, AU-ID 1407125. The certificate is posted on our website.

Yes, we are ISO 15189 accredited. Our certification number is 3950.01 and is posted on our website.

Yes, PreventionGenetics is currently licensed by the states of New York, California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The certificates are posted on our web site. For New York approved tests and more details please see our NY Landing Page.