ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Circulating Tumor Cell Count : 0093399
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Additional Technical Information
  


Mnemonic: CTC COUNT

Ordering Recommendation: May use to predict survival in patients treated for metastatic breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. May use to evaluate response to therapy.
Methodology: Immunomagnetic Separation/Immunofluorescent Stain/Computer Assisted Analysis
Performed: Wed-Fri
Reported: 1-5 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: If the patient is on doxorubicin therapy, allow at least 7 days following administration of a dose of doxorubicin before blood draw.

Collect: CellSave®Preservative tube (ARUP supply # 44867). Available online through eSupply using ARUP ConnectTM or contact
ARUP Client Services at (800) 522-2787. Due to stability, collect Monday-Thursday only.

Specimen Preparation: Transport 20 mL whole blood. (Min: 10 mL) The minimum collection amount will not allow for repeat testing.

Storage/Transport Temperature: Room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Remarks: HISTORY IS REQUIRED. Specify type of metastatic cancer (breast, colorectal, or prostate). This assay is FDA approved only for these 3 metastatic cancers; other types will not be tested.

Unacceptable Conditions: Frozen or refrigerated specimens. Specimens not collected in the CellSave® tube or collected in expired CellSave® tubes. Short draws.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Interval:
By report
Interpretive Data: Refer to report.

For additional information, refer to the Breast Cancer Management Assays, Prostate Cancer, or Colorectal Cancer topic at arupconsult.com.
Note: The CellSearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell kit is intended for the quantification of circulating tumor cells (CTC) of epithelial origin for metastatic breast, colon, or prostate cancer, in whole blood. This assay can be used to predict progression free and overall survival in patients treated for metastatic cancer.

The results of a CellSearch™ test should be interpreted with caution if specimens are drawn within 7 days of administration of doxorubicin therapy.
CPT Code(s): 86152
Cross References: Circulating Tumor Cells, Breast, Colon, Prostate (Circulating Tumor Cell Count (Cell Search)) , CTC (Circulating Tumor Cell Count (Cell Search))