NonGyn Specimen Collection Chart

NonGyn Specimen Preparation/Collection Chart
Air dried slides = DQ Stain. Alcohol fixed slides = Pap Stain

Specimen

Pap
Stain

DQ
Stain

Thin
Prep

Collection

Body Fluids: Asitic Fluid/Peritoneal Fluid/Pleaural Fluid/Thorcentesis Fluid
Pelvic Fluid/Wash/ Pericardial Fluid

1

1

x

Labeled Vacutainer or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Collection Device
Refrigerate or send immediately.

Bile Duct Wash/Brushings

2

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device
Submit brush in labeled formalin container. Refrigerate or send immediately.

Bronchial Brushings/Gastric Brushings

2

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device
Submit brush in labeled formalin container

Bronchial Washings/Gastric Washings

1

x

Yes

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH/Labeled Collection Device
Submit brush in labeled formalin container. Refrigerate or send immediately.

Cerebrospinal Fluid/CSF

1

1

x

Submit unfixed CSF in a labeled specimen container. Refrigerate or send immediately.

Conjunctival/Corneal Scraping

x

x

x

Submit labeled direct smears 

Fine Needle Aspiration/FNA

x

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device

Joint Fluid/Synovial Fluid

x

1

x

Submit specimen in labeled container and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Collection Device

Ganglion Cyst Fluid

x

2

x

Submit specimen in labeled container and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Collection Device

Thyroid Cyst Fluid

2

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device

Breast Cyst Fluid

2

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH/Labeled Collection Device
Refrigerate or send immediately.

Renal Cyst Fluid

2

x

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device

Ovarian Cyst Fluid

1

1

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides or Specimen Syringe
Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH and/or Labeled Collection Device

Nasal Cytograms

x

x

x

Label and submit air dried slides

Sputum - Received in 50%
Sputum - Unfixed

2

x

1

Submit specimen in labeled container, if specimen will be delayed
getting to the lab, add an equal volume of 50% ETOH to the specimen.
Refrigerate or send immediately.

Pneumocystis - Fixed Sputum
Bronchial Specimens

x

x

x

Submit specimen in labeled container, if specimen will be delayed
getting to the lab, add an equal volume of 50% ETOH to the specimen and refrigerate.

Pneumocystis - Fresh Sputum
Bronchial Specimens

x

2

x

Submit specimen in labeled container, if specimen will be delayed
getting to the lab, add an equal volume of 50% ETOH to the specimen and refrigerate.

Tzank Smears

*

*

x

Labeled Air Dried Slides and/or Labeled Slides Fixed in 95% ETOH.

Urinary Tract Cytology: Urine/Bladder Washings Kidney, Urethra/Ureter
(any of the above received for UroVysion)

1

x

Yes

Submit urine in a labeled container. Store refrigerated until pick-up
is available. 50% ETOH may be added to the specimen for cellular
preservation. For UroVysion cases submission of > 30cc of urine is recommended.
If specimen is delayed getting to the lab add an equal
volume of preservCyt solution to the specimen and refrigerate.

Buccal Smears

Scrape inner surface of cheek using a wooden tongue depressor and place specimen immediately on labeled slide.  Use another slide to spread cells evenly and fix in 95% alcohol (ethanol) immediately.