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Cytology, Non-GYN
Test CodeCytology, NON GYN
Alias/See Also
Cytology, Body fluid Cytology
Preferred Specimen
Breast Nipple Secretions:
- Label two slides with the patient name and medical record number. Use a #2 pencil.
- Collect a small amount of nipple secretion directly onto one of the slides. Oppose the second labeled glass slide onto the first labeled slide, allowing the collected material to provide surface tension between the two slides, and then gently and quickly pull the two slides apart in a horizontal motion to distribute the material in a thin film over both slides.
- Immediately fix the smears with either spray fixative or place in 95% alcohol slide holder or briskly air-dry.
- Place slides in slide holder and forward to the Pathology Department along with a completed requisition.
- Label two slides with the patient name and medical record number. Use a #2 pencil.
- Collect specimen (refer to FNA SOP).
- Place bevel of needle against the center of the glass slide and express a small drop of aspirated material onto slides. Cover with a second slide allowing weight of slide to spread the drop, then quickly pull slides apart.
- Fix the Slides in 95% ethyl alcohol or air dry.
- If no cultures are required and after representative smears are prepared, the remaining aspirated material in a syringe should be rinsed with formalin into a labeled formalin container.
- Place slides in slide holder and forward to the Pathology Department along with a completed requisition.
- NOTE: If microbiological cultures also required:
- Submit a separate sterile specimen to Clinical Microbiology Laboratory with orders in EPIC for requested culture studies. Needle(s) must be removed from the syringe(s) if only syringe(s) submitted.
- For limited volume aspiration fluids, requiring both cultures and cytology studies, fluid must be collected and submitted in a sterile container to the clinical microbiology laboratory. The laboratory will then submit specimen for cytologic examination.
- Label the frosted end of two glass slides with the patient’s first and last name and medical record number. Use a #2 pencil.
- Take one clean glass slide and gently scrape the area of abnormality. If the abnormality is a vesicle, remove the covering and scrape both at the base of the vesicle and around the rim.
- Quickly and evenly smear the collected material on one of the glass slides.
- Repeat the process with the second slide for better diagnostic yield. Repeat the process for additional areas if necessary.
- Submit the slides in a slide holder and forward to Pathology laboratory with a completed requisition.
- Label a clean plastic specimen container with the patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Obtain Sputum specimen.
- The optimum time for specimen collection is within 15 to 30 minutes after waking and before eating breakfast.
- Brushing of teeth or rinsing of the mouth thoroughly with water will reduce contamination by saliva.
- Instruct the patient to inhale and exhale deeply, forcing air from the lungs using the diaphragm. Repeat until the patient coughs and is able to produce a sputum specimen.
- Collect the specimen in the container, attempting to obtain at least one teaspoon of sputum. Specimen should be a deep cough specimen and not saliva.
- Immediately submit specimen to the Pathology Laboratory. If a delay occurs, refrigerate specimen until delivery is possible.
- Label a clean collection container of appropriate size with patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Collect specimen:
- Collect the collect the first morning voided urine specimen is recommended to obtain greatest yield of diagnostic material.
- Female Patients: Avoid vaginal contamination in female patients.
- Male Patients: A midstream specimen, not necessarily clean catch, is recommend for male patients.
- Catheterized specimens: If the patient must be catheterized to obtain the specimen, this should be noted on the specimen requisition, as catheterization can lead to artifacts, which may be misinterpreted without the knowledge that the patient was catheterized.
- Submit the specimen to the Cytopathology Laboratory along with the completed cytology request form. Specimens should be refrigerated if there is a delay in getting the samples to the lab.
- Label a clean collection container of appropriate size with patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Collect specimen.
- Submit CSF specimen to the clinical laboratory with all orders/requisitions.
- NOTE: Cytology CSF is typically performed on the same CSF collection tube as that obtained for cell count purposes submitted to hematology. The Hematology laboratory will forward the specimen to Pathology for the cytologic examination.
- Specimens should be refrigerated if there is a delay in getting the samples to the lab.
- Label a clean collection container of appropriate size with patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Collect Specimen
- Submit the cytopathology specimen to the Clinical Laboratory along with the completed cytology request form. Specimens should be refrigerated if there is a delay in getting the samples to the lab.
- NOTE: If microbiological cultures also required:
- Submit a separate sterile specimen to Clinical Microbiology Laboratory with orders in EPIC for requested culture studies.
- For limited volume aspiration fluids, requiring both cultures and cytology studies, fluid must be collected and submitted in a sterile container to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory will then submit specimen for cytologic examination.
- Label the frosted end of glass slides with the patient’s first and last name and medical record number. Use a #2 pencil.
- Collect Specimen
- Transfer material from the bronchial brush onto the slide and quickly fix (within three seconds) the smeared slide material. Fix the Slides in 95% ethyl alcohol.
- Submit the cytopathology specimen to the Clinical Laboratory along with the completed cytology request form.
- Label the frosted end of glass slides with the patient’s first and last name and medical record number: Use a #2 pencil.
- Transfer material from the brush onto the slide and quickly fix (within three seconds) the smeared slide material.
- Submit the cytopathology specimen to the Clinical Laboratory along with the completed cytology request form.
- Label a clean collection container of appropriate size with patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Collect specimen.
- Submit total volume tapped promptly to Laboratory. If there is a delay getting the fluid to the lab, please refrigerate. Do not add fixative to fluid. Submit specimen in plastic bio-hazard bag with requisition in side pocket.
- NOTE: If microbiological cultures also required:
- For limited volume fluids, requiring both cultures and cytology studies, fluid must be collected and submitted in a sterile container to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory will then submit specimen for cytologic examination.
- Submit a separate sterile specimen to Clinical Microbiology Laboratory with orders in EPIC for requested culture studies.
- Label a clean collection container of appropriate size with patient’s first and last name and medical record number.
- Collect specimen.
- Submit total volume tapped promptly to Laboratory. If there is a delay getting the fluid to the lab, please refrigerate. Do not add fixative to fluid. Submit specimen in plastic bio-hazard bag with requisition in side pocket.
- NOTE: Joint fluids are often first sent to hematology for crystal analysis.
- NOTE: If microbiological cultures also required:
- Submit a separate sterile specimen to Clinical Microbiology Laboratory with orders in EPIC for requested culture studies.
- For limited volume fluids, requiring both cultures and cytology studies, fluid must be collected and submitted in a sterile container to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory will then submit specimen for cytologic examination.
Performing Laboratory
Pathology Services
