About Buccal Cell Sampling
Where it is not possible to obtain a blood sample or if a patient has recently been transfused, sufficient DNA can be obtained for some Molecular Genetic tests from a buccal cell sample (see protocols below). If you require further details, please contact the laboratory.
Protocol for taking samples from babies and young children
Avoid taking the sample within approximately 30 minutes of feeding. (This avoids the sample consisting mainly of saliva.)
Using a clean, dry cotton swab, sweep around the inside of the patient’s cheek particularly where the gum and cheek meet. Apply firm pressure to ensure an adequate number of epithelial cells adhere to the swab.
Place the swab containing the cheek cells into a universal container containing approximately 5ml of physiological saline and agitate the swab in the liquid so that the cells are released into the saline.
Remove and discard the swab. When there are enough cheek cells the saline will look “cloudy.” If necessary repeat with a fresh swab to obtain sufficient sample.
Protocol for taking samples from older children and adults
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The preferred method of buccal sampling from older children and adults is using the OrageneTM saliva collection system (see www.dnagenotek.com for details). If Oragene kits are not available the following method should be used:
The patient should rinse his/her mouth with tap water prior to taking the sample.
The patient should take approx 10ms of sterile physiological saline solution into his/her mouth, agitate the saline solution in the mouth for approx 30 seconds and then spit the solution into a sterile universal tube.
Send the labelled sample (full name, dob, hospital number) with a completed Molecular Genetics Request Form or covering letter detailing what tests are required to:
Regional Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Crown St, Liverpool, L8 7SS.
If necessary, store the mouthwash sample at 4°C overnight until it is able to be sent to the laboratory.
Consent
Consent to carry out the required tests must be obtained. In addition the laboratory stores the remaining DNA after testing for quality assurance purposes. Specific consent is not required for this storage. However, it is considered good practice to inform patients of this practice. If the patient has stated that they do not wish remaining DNA to be stored please indicate this on the referral card.
Protocol authorised January 2004 by R Mountford. Last Review Date May 2005.
Page revised 18.06.04 (Alan Clark)
Reviewed 18.05.05 (Alan Clark)
Authorised 1.05.05 (Roger Mountford)
Reviewed 08.02.06 (Alan Clark)
Reviewed 10.11.08 (Alan Clark)
eviewed 25.02.09 (David Gokhale)
