Instructions for use

Simsen Personal Follow-up ctDNA Collection Kit.

ctDNA monitoring
For patients already set up with a Baseline kit. One venous blood draw, two Streck tubes, for each ctDNA monitoring timepoint. No tissue or control needed. Follow the four steps and your sample arrives ready to run.

Download PDF (IFU)

Kit contents

Check that everything below is in your box before you begin. If anything is missing, contact us before you start.

streck-tubes

Streck tubes x2

10 ml, tan cap (ctDNA)

edta-tube

EDTA tube x1

6 mL, purple cap. First-time patients only
sample-id-stickers

Sample ID stickers x3

barcode and ID
biohazard-bag

Biohazard bag x1

resealable
absorbent-pouch

Absorbent pouch x1

leak absorption
gel-pack

Gel pack x1

cushioning
metallic-envelope

Metallic envelope x1

sealed containment
requisition-form

Requisition form x1

complete and enclose
original-box

Follow-up Kit box x1

use for return

Storage

Keep the kit and any samples within range. Temperature is the most common cause of an unusable sample.

Storage conditions
18 to 30 °C
Unopened kitStore between 18 and 30 °C. Do not exceed this range.
6 to 37 °C
Drawn blood samplesKeep between 6 and 37 °C. Do not freeze.

FFPE tissue is stable at ambient temperature. The whole kit, blood and tissue together, ships at room temperature using the enclosed return label.

The five steps

Work through them in order.

1

Collect the blood samples

  1. Use two 10 mL Streck tubes (tan cap) for every patient.
  2. Fill each tube to capacity. If the volume is insufficient, draw an additional tube.
  3. Allow each tube to fill for 60 to 90 seconds.
  4. Use a 21-gauge straight needle for venepunture.
  5. If a vein collapses, attempt a second venepuncture with a fresh tube.
Patients already set up need only the two Streck tubes. A first-time patient also draws the 6 mL EDTA tube (purple cap) for the matched normal control.

2

Rotate Streck samples gently

Immediately after drawing, gently rotate each Streck tube at least ten times to mix the blood with the reagent.

Do not shake the samples.

Do not seal the tubes with parafilm.

3

Prepare samples for shipment

1
Label each tube with the patient ID and collection date or timepoint.
2
Place the blood tubes inside the absorbent pouch.
3
Insert the absorbent pouch into the biohazard bag.
4
Place the biohazard bag inside the gel pack for cushioning.
5
Put the gel pack and biohazard bag into the metallic envelope.
6
Complete the requisition form and attach a sample ID sticker.
4

Ship the prepared samples

1
Place the sealed metallic envelope and the completed requisition form into the Baseline Collection Kit box.
2
Attach the return label and seal the package. If preferred, place the kit box inside a secondary envelope and apply the label to the outer packaging.

First-time patient?

A patient who has not been set up yet starts with the Baseline Collection Kit, which covers the tumour tissue, the matched normal control and the first ctDNA draw.

Baseline Kit guide →
QUestions before you draw?
 

Talk to the laboratory?

A real human, in CET/CEST time zone, who handles samples like yours every day.