CYTOLOGY, OCULAR

AP36

Label specimen with patient's full name (first and last), medical record number, name of requesting physician, and date and source of specimen.1. Label in pencil the frosted end of the slide with the patient's full name, medical record number and source. 2. Collect 3 direct smears of the ocular lesion. 3. Swab lesion with a cotton-tipped applicator. 4. Smear on 3 clean, frosted-end slides. 5. Immediately spray-fix 1 slide, air-dry the second slide, and fix the third slide in a Coplin jar containing formalin. NOTE: 1. Cellular distortion or smearing artifact due to excessive pressure applied when smearing the specimen can limit cytologic interpretation. 2. When using spray fixative, hold the container 6-8 inches from the slide. Spraying too close or too far will result in cellular artifacts that compromise cytologic interpretation. 3. For "RUSH" after-hours cases, the air-dried slide can be stained with Wright-Giemsa by the clinical laboratory and evaluated by the house staff or attending physician or pathologist on call. Final results and sign-out will be given the next workday.

Set Up:Monday - Friday Report Available:1-2 days

Useful for the diagnosis of trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis, adenovirus infection, vaccinia infection or herpetic conjunctivitis, and evaluation of possible dysplastic or malignant conjunctival lesions.