Methods and systems for recovering assessable analytes from core needle biopsies

A method for recovering an assessable analyte potentially including DNA, RNA, an exosome or a protein from a tissue sample retrieved via a core needle biopsy, the method comprising:

• providing a core needle having the tissue sample disposed therein retrieved via the core needle biopsy, wherein the tissue sample comprises a tissue core and dislodged cells;
• providing a buffer solution, wherein the buffer solution does not comprise formalin;
• immersing a portion of the core needle having the tissue sample disposed therein in the buffer solution;
• swirling the core needle within the buffer solution to form a first intermediate mixture comprising the buffer solution, the tissue core, and the dislodged cells;
• filtering the first intermediate mixture into a sample tube using a strainer to separate the tissue core from the first intermediate mixture, yielding the tissue core and a second intermediate mixture comprising the buffer solution and the dislodged cells;
• adding a cell lysis and stabilization reagent not including formalin to the second intermediate mixture, yielding a third mixture comprising lysed dislodged cells from which the assessable analyte can be retrieved;
• extracting the assessable analyte from the third mixture;
• and
• assessing the assessable analyte;
• wherein the assessable analyte has not been exposed to formalin.