Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Varies

Container/Tube: Slides and container with CytoLyt

Specimen Volume: Adequate amount

Collection Instructions:

1. Using a lead pencil, label frosted end of 2 slides with patient’s name (first and last) and type of specimen.

2. Using needle and syringe, aspirate material.

3. Working rapidly, disconnect syringe from needle, fill syringe with air, and reconnect needle.

4. Carefully express a small drop of aspirated material onto end of slides.

a. In order to prevent splattering and loss of material, needle tip is brought into light contact with surface of slide.

b. A second slide is placed on top of first slide to obtain an even spread of material, and slides are separated.

c. Preparation of smear should be performed gently to prevent crushing of cells.

5. Permit slides to air dry in order that they might be stained by Wright-Giemsa method. Mark air-dried slides with “A.D.”
6. Allow slides to dry completely. Place slides in a cardboard slide holder.

7. Label holder with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, source and site of specimen, physician’s name, and hospital identification number (if applicable).

8. After smears are made, carefully express aspirated material into container with CytoLyt fixative. To rinse needle and syringe, re-aspirate some of the fluid in container and express back into container.

9. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, source and site of specimen, physician’s name, and hospital identification number (if applicable).

10. Place specimen in plastic specimen bag with request form inserted into pocket separate from specimen, and, if possible, deliver specimen to Cytology Laboratory.

Forms: Cytology Test Requisition (see Forms-Requisitions in left column)

Include patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date of collection, address, phone number, Social Security number, insurance information, physician’s name and address, source and site of specimen, pertinent clinical history.

Specimen Rejection: The following specimens will be returned to submitting physician:

1. No request form

2. Name on request form does not match name on specimen container

3. Unlabeled specimen

4. No doctor’s name given

5. Broken slides that cannot be repaired