Test Information

For assistance with slide preparation and/or pathologist immediate assessment information, contact the Cytopathology Lab.  

Specify specimen source, include pertinent patient history, clinical information and appropriate ICD-10 code on test requisition or electronic order.  

NOTE:  If air-dried slides for Diff-Quick stain are prepared, label the slides "air" and put in cardboard or plastic slide holders and send along with the fixed slides and needle rinse.  

NOTE:  If Flow Cytometry is requested or ordered, collect as for Cytology EXCEPT place needle rinse in Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS).  Do NOT place in fixative.  Keep specimen at room temperature.

For collection and ordering of Parathyroid Hormone chemistry testing, see  PTH, Intact Other Fluids

For collection and ordering of Thyroglobulin chemistry testing, see Thyroglobulin Other Fluids

For collection and ordering of CEA chemistry testing, see CEA, Body Fluid

For collection and ordering of Amylase chemistry testing, see Amylase, Other

NOTE:  Chemistry testing from a fine needle aspiration rinse should be collected in a 15 mL centrifuge tube.  No more than 1 mL of sterile saline may be used to rinse the collected material into the appropriate collection tube.  Chemistry testing samples should be accompanied by the corresponding requisition and/or labeled with electronic order labels.  Specimens should be stored/transported separately from the fine needle aspiration materials, in accordance with the corresponding test stability information.