Specimen Information

Specimen Collection: A scraping should be made from the base of the suspected vesicle using a plastic spatula or cytobrush. Immediately rinse the spatula or brush in a CytoLyt tube or ThinPrep® vial by swirling the collection device vigorously in the vial 10 times. Tighten the cap so that the black torque line on the cap passes the black torque line on the vial. Label the vial with the patient’s name and MRN or date of birth. The accompanying specimen requisition should contain all pertinent clinical information.
 

STAT:
If the ThinPrep® vial can be delivered to Laboratory Specimen Receiving, East Pavilion 1-100, prior to 3:00 pm Monday - Friday, prepare as instructed above. Clearly indicate that a result is needed STAT. The accompanying specimen requisition should contain all pertinent clinical information.

If it is necessary to have a Tzank prep reviewed after 5:00 pm or anytime over the weekend, the clinical pathology resident on call should be notified for a STAT interpretation 847-5121 or call Provider Access Service, 847-2700. In those instances, the sample should be smeared on a glass slide and must be fixed within 3 seconds by spraying with a cytological fixative. Aerosol spray fixative should not be held any closer than 12 inches from the slide, making sure the entire sample is flooded with fixative. Drying or improper fixation cannot be permitted, as cellular detail is distorted which may render the specimen unsatisfactory for interpretation. All slides submitted for cytologic examinations are required to have the patient’s name and a second patient identifier written in pencil on the frosted end of the slide.