Cytology, Needle Aspiration

Acceptable Specimens:

Abdominal aspiration, bone needle aspiration, brain needle aspiration, breast needle aspiration, fine-needle aspiration, joint needle aspiration, liver needle aspiration, lung needle aspiration, lymph node aspiration, mediastinal mass aspiration, neck mass aspiration, needle biopsy, pancreas needle aspiration, retroperitoneal mass aspiration, salivary gland aspiration, solid mass aspiration, synovium needle aspiration, or thyroid needle aspiration

 Fluid Specimen
Container/Tube: Tube containing 25 mL of CytoLyt
Specimen Volume: 10 mL of fluid from a needle aspirate
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions:
Note: 1. The following specimens will be returned to submitting physician:
   A. No requisition form
   B. Name on requisition does not match name on specimen
   C. Unlabeled specimen
   D. No doctor’s name given
   E. Improper fixation
2. Label tube with patient’s full name (first and last), date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (if applicable), and specimen source.

Slide Specimen
Container/Tube: Slide(s)
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions:  1. If glass slides are submitted, using a lead pencil, label frosted end of a glass slide with patient’s name and origin of site prior to specimen collection. Observe Universal Precautions for collecting and handling specimen.  2. Submit needle aspiration in Pap jar, on frosted-end slide, in CytoLyt, or in sterile VACUTAINER.  3. If glass slides are submitted, place slides in a plastic slide holder.
Note: 1. The following specimens will be returned to submitting physician:
   A. No requisition form
   B. Name on requisition does not match name on specimen
   C. Broken slide that cannot be reconstructed
   D. Unlabeled specimen
   E. No doctor’s name given
   F. Improper fixation
   G. Air-drying artifact
2. Label container with patient’s full name (first and last), date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (if applicable), and specimen source.