Instructions for Abdominal Fat Tissue Aspirate

Procedure:
Patient reclining, cleanse area with iodine solution - usually paraumbilical, but may be anywhere on the abdomen avoiding scars, rash, cellulitis or bruises.

Infiltrate 1cc lidocaine

Using 19ga needle on 10cc syringe, insert needle subcutaneously. Put full negative pressure (plunger out to 10cc mark), on syringe.  While plunger is in this position, move needle back and forth under the skin two to four times, remove needle from skin while plunger is still pulled back.  Examine the syringe for tiny (1mm) pieces of fat tissue.  Fat droplets alone are not adequate for diagnosis; drops of blood do not interfere with diagnosis.  Repeat aspirate until 5-10 pieces of tissue are obtained.  (Usually requires reinsertion of needle into skin 2-4 times.)

Transportation:
Remove plunger from syringe.  With needle on small syringe, pick out all of the fat tissue clumps, and place them on a slide.  With second slide place on top and squash two slides together.

Evaluation:
Stain as directed or, if you prefer, you may send to us.

If cardboard slide containers are available, secure the two slides with an elastic, aspirate slides facing each other. If only plastic slide holders are available, the slides can be separated and sent in the container. 

Regular or air mail is adequate. No refrigeration or ice is necessary.

Send to:

Gerry Amyloid Research Laboratory
Boston University School of Medicine
72 East Concord Street, K503
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 638-4317

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Boston University | Amyloid Treatment & Research Program | July 28, 2008