Specimen Requirements

Forms: Pathology requisition; or place a Pathology order in order entry including patient’s name, date of birth, date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (in- or out-patient) or address, specimen source, and pertinent clinical historyImmediately bring specimen to Pathology (open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.-4 p.m.). On weekends or during off hours, leave request form and specimen in specimen basket on laboratory processing counter. Flip light switch to notify laboratory personnel.Specimen Type: Direct smears>Container/Tube: Glass slides in slide transport containerSpecimen Volume: Slides-The number of slides prepared from each aspiration procedure depends on amount of material within needle.Collection Instructions:1.Using a lead pencil, write patient’s name and source of specimen on frosted end of glass slides.2. After collecting FNA, working rapidly, disconnect syringe from needle, fill syringe with air, and reconnect needle.3. Carefully express a small drop of aspirated material onto 1 end of slide. In order to prevent splattering and loss of material, needle tip is brought into light contact with surface of slide. A second slide is placed on top of first slide to obtain an even spread of material, and gently pull slides endways. Preparation of smear should be performed gently in order to prevent crushing of cells.>4. Immediately fix slides with cytology spray (spray 8-10 inches away from slides). Allow slides to dry then place in slide transport container, or place slides inslide container with 95% ethanol.>5.After all smears are made, rinse needle in container with PreservCyt, and submit fluid for ThinPrep slide preparation and/or cell-block preparation in addition to prepared slides.>6.Label slide holder with patient’s name, date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (if applicable), and source of specimen.Additional Information:The following specimens will be returned to submitting physician:A. No request formB. Name on request form does not match name on specimenC. Broken slides that cannot be reconstructedD. Unlabeled specimenE. Specimen improperly collectedSpecimen Type: ThinPrep procedure>Container/Tube: Plastic containercontaining PreservCytSpecimen Volume: Entire collectionCollection Instructions:1. After collecting FNA, working rapidly, disconnect syringe from needle, fill syringe with air, and reconnect needle.>2. Carefully express aspirated material into container of 30 mL of PreservCyt. To rinse needle and syringe, re-aspirate some of the fluid in centrifuge tube and express back into container.>3.Label slide holder with patient’s name, date of collection, physician’s name, hospital identification number (if applicable), and source of specimen.Additional Information:The following specimens will be returned to submitting physician:A. No request formB. Name on request form does not match name on specimenC. Specimen improperly collectedD. Unlabeled specimen