Prenatal Sample Requirements

Baylor Genetics accepts the following sample types for prenatal tests. Submitted sample types must meet the cumulative sample requirements for all ordered prenatal testing. Genetic counselors may be reached via email at gc@baylorgenetics.com with complex testing questions. For assistance with billing questions, kit requests, and/or shipping, please call 1-800-411-4363.  

Prenatal Tests  Accepted Specimen Type  Volume*  Shipping Conditions  
Initial Confirmation 
Prenatal 
Chromosome Analysis, Array Analysis, or Array + Limited Karyotype Analysis1
Direct CVS or Amniotic Fluid  15-25 mg/mL  NA  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hrs of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
Cultured CVS or Amniotic Fluid  1 T-25 flask  NA  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hrs of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
DNA Targeted Sequencing1

Any prenatal targeted site Sanger study. 

Note: Codes are as listed on the website.  

Test Code: 1522  

For custom prenatal targeted site Sanger studies that do not have a gene specific code on the website.  

Direct CVS  10-15 mg  1 T-25 flask  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack.  
Direct Amniocytes  10-15 mL  1 T-25 flask  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack. 
Cultured CVS or Amniocytes  1 T-25 flask  1 T-25 flask from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
DMD Deletion/Duplication1,2


Test Code: 6351 

Direct CVS  10-15 mg 1 T-25 flask Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
Direct Amniocytes  10-15 mL  1 T-25 flask  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack.  
Cultured CVS or Amniocytes
 1 T-25 flask
1 T-25 flask from separate primary
Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack. 
Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Repeat Expansion Analysis1,5 


Test Code: 6105 

Direct CVS  15-20 mg  2-T25 flasks  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack. 
Cultured CVS or Amniocytes  2 T-25 flasks  2 T-25 flasks from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
Huntington Disease Repeat Expansion Analysis1,5 


Test Code: 6099 

Direct CVS  15-20 mg  2 T-25 flasks  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. During hot weather conditions, ship with a cold pack. 
Cultured CVS or Amniocytes  2 T-25 flasks  2 T-25 flasks from separate primary  Ship at room temperature in an insulated container by overnight courier. Do not heat or freeze. 
FMR1 (Fragile X) CGG Repeat Expansion Analysis1,5 


Test Code: 6574 

Cultured Amniocytes  2 T-25 flasks  2 T-25 flasks from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
MECP2 (Rett Syndrome) Deletion/Duplication1,2


Test Code: 6109 

Cultured CVS or Amniocytes  2 T-25 flasks  2 T-25 flasks from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
IKBKG (Incontinentia Pigmenti) Common Deletion Analysis1,2 


Test Code: 6100 

Cultured CVS or Amniocytes  2 T-25 flasks  2 T-25 flasks from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
Prenatal Noonan Spectrum Disorders Panel (NGS with Sanger confirmation)3 


Test Code: 24001-P12-15

Cultured CVS or Amniocytes 

(parental samples required)1 

1 T-25 flask 


1 T-25 flask from separate primary
 

Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 
Prenatal Trio Whole Exome Sequencing4 


Test Code: 1622 

Cultured CVS or Amniocytes 

(parental samples required)1 

1 T-25 flask  1 T-25 flask from separate primary  Ship the sample at room temperature to the laboratory by overnight express. Specimen should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of sample date. Specimen cannot be frozen. 

 *Both initial and confirmation volume amounts are required when ordering any prenatal test.   

  1. Samples from both parents are required as controls for testing. Note, for test code 6574, the paternal sample is preferred but not required. 
  2. Generally, Baylor Genetics will test even if the mother is not found to be a carrier of the familial mutation due to the high incidence of gonadal mosaicism. 
  3. Prenatal Noonan requires U/S findings consistent with Noonan syndrome to be ran.  
  4. Prenatal exome studies require appropriate sonographic findings to allow the filtering of variants. Baylor Genetics requires samples from both parents. However, exceptions can be made if the paternal sample is not available (i.e., unknown, sperm donor, etc.). 
  5. Please note that Southern blot requires a relatively large amount of extracted DNA. Therefore, cultured amniocytes are needed for DNA extraction to perform this testing. Baylor Genetics will grow cultured amniocytes for this testing if cultures are not expected to be sent from another lab.

Labeling 
For prenatal testing, please make sure that the specimen containers have two identifiers that match the prenatal test requisition. Identifiers include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Patient’s First and Last Name 
  • Date of Birth 
  • Accession # 
  • Hospital / Medical Record # 

Additional Notes
If direct amniotic fluid is being sent, the gestational age must be greater than 16 weeks; cultures should be sent at about 80% confluency. 

All prenatal testing requires the maternal specimen (5cc in a properly labeled EDTA tube) for maternal cell contamination (MCC) studies. 

If testing was not previously done at Baylor Genetics, then both parents and/or proband specimens may be needed as controls. If parents have not already had testing at a clinical lab, then parental confirmation testing will be a charge. Generally, family studies need to be completed prior to initiating prenatal testing. 

A fetal report will be issued when the initial testing is completed and updated when the confirmation testing has been completed.