Specimen Requirements

If fine-needle aspirate is to be performed at Holland Hospital, call 616-394-3185 to schedule an appointment.

If fine-needle aspirate is to be performed in the office, collect specimen as follows:

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Cyst Fluid

Specimen Type: Cyst fluid

Container/Tube: CytoLyt fixative

Collection Instructions:

1. Aseptically collect specimen and place in container of CytoLyt fixative.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

4. Indicate source of specimen.

5. Do not transport specimen in syringe with needle attached.

6. Please complete a “Histopathology/Cytology” request form in Special Instructions and forward it with the specimen.

Smear

Specimen Type: Smear

Container/Tube: Air-dried and fixed smears

Collection Instructions:

1. Send both air-dried and fixed smears. Smear should be immediately fixed in 95% ethanol or sprayed with commercially available fixative.

2. With a #2 lead pencil, label frosted end of clean glass slide with name of patient, source, and type of fixation.

3. Place slide in a cardboard slide folder. Do not close folder until slide has dried completely. Specimen may adhere to cardboard folder or paper filaments may adhere to slide making evaluation difficult.

4. Label cardboard slide folder with first and last name of patient, date of birth, and date of collection.

5. Indicate source of specimen.

6. Please complete a “Histopathology/Cytology” request form in Special Instructions and forward it with the specimen.