In this section
Serous fluid samples (pleural/ascitic/peritoneal/pericardial fluids & peritoneal washing)
- 50 -100 mls fluid should be sent in a clean dry container with screw cap (Note: no formalin or alcohol should be added to the sample as both of these can cause interference with adherence to slide and quality of staining)
- The fluid should be submitted as soon as possible to minimise cell deterioration, so that cell preservation is not compromised
- If there is a delay in delivering the sample to the laboratory, the sample should be kept refrigerated at 4°C (Note – the sample should NOT be frozen).
Serous fluid
Cyst fluids
Cyst fluid samples
- Cyst fluid samples should be put into a clean dry container with screw cap.
- The fluid should be submitted as soon as possible to minimise cell deterioration, so that cell preservation is not compromised
- If there is a delay in delivering the sample to the laboratory, the sample should be kept refrigerated at 4°C (Note – the sample should NOT be frozen)
Respiratory tract samples
For any respiratory samples, please ensure details of smoking (never/light smoker/current smoker/ex smoker) and performance status (WHO 0, 1, 2, 3) are recorded on the request form in the clinical details section
Sputum samples
- Best results are achieved with freshly obtained sputa following chest physiotherapy, with an early morning sputum before the patient has eaten
- Contamination with large amounts of saliva or food leads to inadequate specimens
- Multiple specimens (usually x 3) may be necessary, but these should be sent on 3 separate days, not all taken at the same time
- Send in clean, dry container with screw cap
- If examination for eosinophils is required please indicate this on the request form.
Bronchial aspirate/trap/lavage & bronchoalveolar lavage samples
- Fresh specimen should be placed in a clean dry container and an equal volume of CytoRich® Red preservative fluid added immediately for fixation
- The time of this fixation should be indicated on the label of the container
- If CytoRich® Red preservative fluid is not available, fresh specimen should be placed in clean dry container. Delay in receipt of unfixed samples can lead to deterioration of specimen
- If differential cell count is required, split the sample and send half unfixed and the other half fixed in CytoRich®. Send unfixed samples on ICE and received by the laboratory before 3.30pm
DO NOT USE FORMALIN FIXATIVE
Fresh specimen
Specimen with an equal volume of CytoRich® Red preservative fluid
- Please note: When the stock of CytoRich® Red preservative fluid is running low or close to its expiry date, please contact the cytology department on 276 5110/5115 for replacement.
Bronchial brush samples
- Place brush into clean screw capped container with CytoRich® Red preservative fluid. Ensure brush is fully immersed in preservative
- The time of this fixation should be indicated on the label of the container.
- DO NOT USE FORMALIN FIXATIVE
- Please note: When the stock of CytoRich® Red preservative fluid is running low or close to its expiry date, please contact the cytology department on 276 5110/5115 for replacement of stock.
Gastrointestinal tract brush samples (including bile duct brushes)
- Place brush into clean screw capped container with CytoRich® Red preservative fluid. Ensure brush is fully immersed in preservative
- The time of this fixation should be indicated on the label of the container
- DO NOT USE FORMALIN FIXATIVE
- Please note: When the stock of CytoRich® Red preservative fluid is running low or close to its expiry date, please contact the cytology department on 276 5110/5115 for replacement of stock.
Urinary tract samples (including voided, catheter, ileal conduit, ureteric and urethral)
- Collect urine in a clean, dry container with a screw cap. A 20ml to 50ml container, preferably with yellow lid (below) is suitable
- Please do not send urine for cytology in Sarstedt Monovette
- An adequate urine sample is the second voided of the day, preferably mid-morning.
- Please note: The first sample voided in the morning is unsuitable for cytological analysis
- Urine can be collected from catheters as well as washings from the bladder or upper urinary tract. The request form must state the method of collection
- If there is a delay in delivering the sample to the laboratory, the urine sample should be kept in a fridge at 4ºC
- A voided urine received in the laboratory more than 2 days old may be rejected
Cerebrospinal fluid samples
- A clean, dry container with screw cap should be used
- CSF samples are liable to degenerate rapidly and as such must be prepared immediately. Please contact the laboratory to inform staff of imminent arrival of a CSF sample, and leave a bleep or contact number
- Latest processing time for samples is 15.30 hrs Mon-Fri. CSF samples must be received at least half an hour before this time
- If out of hours sampling is unavoidable, storing the sample in refrigerator at 4°C may help preserve cells for up to 24 hours.
(Last reviewed March 2024)