Cytology, Body Fluid

3948888

Includes routine cytologic evaluation of smears, cytospin, and cell block, when possible.  

Acceptable Specimens:
Body fluid (ascitic, paracentesis, pericardial, pericardiocentesis, peritoneal, pleural, synovial, or thoracentesis); nipple discharge; spinal fluid; sputum; or urine (bladder, renal pelvic, or ureteral washing.)

Body Fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile vial(s)
Specimen Volume: 5 mL of body fluid
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions: 1. If appropriate, add 28 mL of EDTA to 2,000 mL evacuated bottle(s). 2. Gently agitate flask as fluid is collected to mix anticoagulant with fluid.
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. Fixation of any type
2. Label vial with patient’s full name (first and last), date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (if applicable), and specimen source.

Nipple Discharge
Container/Tube: Slide(s)
Specimen Volume: Nipple discharge
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions: 1. 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. Soak nipple with warm saline in cotton or gauze for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently strip subareolar area and nipple with thumb and forefinger. 3. When secretion occurs, allow pea-sized drop to accumulate on apex of nipple. 4. Place slide upon nipple and slide across quickly. 5. Spray immediately with cytology fixative. 6. Make 4 to 8 smears as amount of specimen allows. The latter smears usually contain more abnormal cells. 7. Place slides in a plastic slide holder(s).
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.

Spinal Fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile vial(s)
Specimen Volume: 1 mL to 2 mL of spinal fluid
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
2. For spinal fluid specimen, label each vial with patient’s full name (first and last), date and time of collection, initials of person collecting spinal fluid, and order in which vials were collected.

Sputum, Pulmonary Lesion
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)-Saliva or nasal aspirate is not acceptable.
Specimen Volume: 15 mL of discharged material
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions: 1. If a pulmonary lesion is suspected, a complete sputum series should be examined. A complete sputum series consists of a fresh, early-morning specimen each day for 3 days. A post-bronchoscopy sputum should be included in the series. 2. Complete sputum series increases detection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. 3. A 12- to 24-hour specimen is collected in Carbowax only in patients with scanty sputum or when previous single sputum contains rare malignant cells.
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
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.

Sputum, Routine
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)-Saliva or nasal aspirate is not acceptable.
Specimen Volume: 15 mL of discharged material with cytology sputum Carbowax fixative
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions: 1. Upon arising, patient rinses mouth with water and expectorates a “deep-cough” specimen into plastic container. 2. Seal container tightly and shake. 3. Deliver each specimen immediately.
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
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.

Urine
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Specimen Volume: 50 mL from a catheterized or voided urine collection (preferably not first-morning voided specimen) or intraoperative washing of urinary bladder, ureters, or pelvicalyces
Forms: Cytology Request Form
Collection Instructions: Hydrate patient (give several glasses of water 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to collection).
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. 24-Hour collection
   F. Improper fixation
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.

Ambient

Monday through Saturday

Negative to abnormal cells consistent with malignant neoplasm

Useful for the diagnosis of primary or metastatic neoplasms; can aid in the diagnosis of certain infectious and nonneoplastic processes.