Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (BeLPT) Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Please contact the Beryllium Program at 303-398-1722 if you would like information regarding testing in quantity, other beryllium-related services, beryllium clinical evaluations, or with comments, questions or concerns.

All specimens sent to the laboratory should conform to all Federal and IATA shipping regulations.

Thank you for choosing Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories (ADx) at National Jewish Health.

Collection, Handling and Shipping

Please Note: It is recommended that the sample be obtained from wedged position in lingual or right middle lobe; 240cc NS instilled and gently aspirated in 60cc aliquots. To perform this test we need a minimum of 15 million white cells and strongly recommend that you send 20 million or more.

1. Call the Client Services Department at (800) 550-6227 option 5 to schedule the test before sample is shipped. Alternatively, you may send a fax to (800) 652-9556. Please include the number of specimens you anticipate sending. We accept samples Monday through Saturday - there are no limits on the number of samples you may collect and ship each day. Scheduling with the laboratory in advance of venipuncture is preferred.

2. Collect lavage fluid in sterile container. Do not centrifuge until cell count and differential have been performed. Please provide results of cell count and differential to ADx laboratories. 

3. After cell count has been performed, centrifuge the lavage specimen (approximately 1200 rpm x 10 minutes).

4. Remove supernatant. Re-suspend cells in complete medium. This consists of:

   • RPMI 1640 (or similar tissue culture medium)

   • Gentamicin sulfate or pen/strep (0.5% by volume)

   • Serum 10% by volume (can use pooled AB positive serum or patient's own serum)

5. Final concentration of cells in media should be approximately 5-10 million cells per ml. Place in a plastic centrifuge tube and seal.

6. POSITIVE PATIENT IDENTIFICATION [Labeling] requires we use two (2) pieces of information [identifiers].

   • The standard two patient identifiers for ADx Laboratories are patient FULL NAME and DATE OF BIRTH.
   • Limited exception for de-identified samples would be the sample NUMBER and patient DATE OF BIRTH.
   • Both identifiers must match exactly on the specimen label and the requisition/order that corresponds to that specimen.
   • Where appropriate for multiple samples submitted together, specimen collection information (e.g. site or source, date and time of collection, etc.) must also be included on the specimen label.

7. For each sample sent, please enclose a requisition with the name of the patient. Download a requisition form (Word).

8. Send ambient lavage priority overnight via FedEx in a well insulated container (or in the ADx shipping kit). Specimen must be received in the laboratory within 24 hours of collection. Shipping kits may be obtained by calling ADx Client Services at a cost of $5 per kit.

Address package to:
National Jewish Health
Beryllium Lab, Room M017
1400 Jackson St
Denver CO 80206
(800) 550-6227