PAP: conventional smear or specimen submitted in preservcyt vial for cytology

Conventional PAP smear:  Cervical/vaginal smear on slide.  Immediately spray fix slide upon collection,
Thin Prep:  Cervical/vaginal sample in preservcyt solution vial

Place order in Meditech.  Provide required essential information including LMP and other pertinent clinical history.  A manual Pathology Specimen Request form can be used when you do not have access to a computer and/or during downtime.

Conventional Smears:
Endocervical aspiration, scrape or brush, and cervical smear is recommended in all cases.  Aspiration of posterior fornix (vaginal pool) may be useful if endometrial cancer is being sought, but is not a substitute for cervical specimens.  Endometrial aspirations are not advised for routine use.  For lesions of the vagina or vulva, scrapings made directly from the lesion are desirable.  Scrapings of the upper third of the lateral vagina wall is recommended for hormonal evaluation.
    1.  Label slide with patient's name and date of birth.
    2.  Patient should avoid douches 48-72 hours prior to obtaining specimen.
    3.  Vaginal lubricant should not be used prior to obtaining specimen.
    4.  Clean cervical os.
    5.  After insertion of speculum, collect endocervical smear and cervical smear as follows:
         Endocervical smear:
         a.  Insert cytobrush into the endocervical canal
         b.  Rotate brush 1 complete turn and remove
         c.  Do not spread on slide until cervical smear is collected
         Cervical Smear
         a.  Collect cervical smear with spatula
         b.  Thoroughly scrape the entire ectocervix with special emphasis on squamo-columnar junction
         Prepare slide by gently smearing both specimens on the slide at the same time.  Rotate cervical brush counterclockwise to ensure deposition of cells.  Fix slide immediately with cytology spray fixative before slides dry.  Hold spray about 12 inches away from slide.

ThinPrep Samples:
ThinPrep PAP test supplies including PAP smear spatulas and PreservCyt Solution can be obtained from Pathology.
    1.  Label the preservative vial with the patient's name , date of birth, date and time of collection, and the collector's initials.
    2.  The speculum is lubricated with warm water only, not lubricant jelly.  It is positioned to expose the cervix at the end of the speculum.
    3.  If large quantities of mucus or exudates are present, gently remove by patting with dry gauze without disturbing the epithelium.
    4.  Please refer to the ThinPrep test collection instructions.
   
 

Spray fixed slide in slide mailer or sample in PreservCyt vial