Cellular Pathology: Types of samples
Histology samples
| Type of sample | Sample requirement |
| Histopathology – Routine Diagnosis | Tissue in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin, at least 10x the volume of the specimens. |
| Histopathology – Frozen sections (on request) |
Fresh tissue (i.e. no fixative) – delivered immediately to the laboratory. |
Diagnostic cytology samples
| Sample type | Sample volume | Lab requirement |
| Anal brushings | Brush rinsed in Hologic ThinPrep vial. | Brush tip must not be placed in vial. Ensure ThinPrep vial is in date and stored between 15–30°C. |
| Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) | Place in an empty sterile container. | Cells deteriorate rapidly so the specimen should be brought to the lab immediately. Where a Cell differential count is required sample must be submitted within a couple of hours of sample being taken. |
| Cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) | 2ml sample ideal (less OK). | Cells deteriorate rapidly so the specimen should be brought to the lab immediately. Inform lab staff that a CSF sample is being sent. These samples must be received in the lab before 4.00pm (Monday to Friday except bank holidays) to ensure they are dealt with that day. Ensure a separate sample has been submitted to clinical chemistry and Microbiology as well, if appropriate. |
| Cyst Fluid | 25ml (max) of fluid | Plain sterile container |
| Endoscopic Brushings (eg. Bronchial) Endoscopic Washings (eg. Bronchial) |
Placed in 15ml CytoLyt solution. | |
| FNA slides & Needle Rinses | Fixed slides must be fixed in IMS or spray fixed. Needle rinses to be placed in a plain sterile container/ Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium (RPMI) or CytoLyt solution. Ask laboratory if unsure. |
Ensure method of fixation is clearly stated on slide(s). Number of slides submitted must be written on request form. Slides must be transported in a slide mailer. |
| Nipple Discharge | ||
| Serous Fluid (eg.Pleural, Ascitic, Abdominal, Peritoneal, pericardial) | 60ml (min)recommended in an empty sterile container. | If patients have been supine for any length of time please get the patient to sit up and move a little, so that any cells that have settled are resuspended. |
| Sputum | Place in an empty sterile container. | This sample is of limited or no clinical value, and should rarely be received. Should only be taken where patients are unfit for Bronchoscopy. For best results obtain sputum following chest physiotherapy, with an early morning sample before the patient has eaten or brushed their teeth. Multiple samples (x3) may be needed, but they should be taken on 3 separate days. The whole of the expectorated sample should be submitted. |
| Synovial Fluid | 5ml min. | |
| Urine |
20ml (min) of fluid in sterile container. Second void of the day to be collected. |
Send to lab ASAP, if delay anticipated refrigerate and store at 4°C or... A preservative, such as Hologic PreservCyt solution, may be added to the sample in a 2:1 ratio (2 parts urine to 1 part fixative) and this must be recorded on the sample pot with a black dot using a marker pen or written on the request form. The first sample voided in the morning is unsuitable for analysis. RED TOPPED Borate Universals are NOT Suitable for Cytology. The lab will not accept these samples. |