Direct Scraping - Cytology

Screening and diagnostic interpretation

Direct Scraping - Cytology

See "Specimen Preparation (In house)" above.

Deliver specimens to the Cytopathology Laboratory (C7630), Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM, or place in the Surgical Pathology/Cytology refrigerator outside H2349.

IF THE LESION IS MOIST: Scrape the lesion with a wooden tongue depressor. Rapidly smear the material evenly from the tongue depressor blade onto the surface of a properly labeled frosted-end glass slide. IMMEDIATE FIXATION IS IMPERATIVE. Immediately spray fix (holding the spray can at least 10-12 inches from the slide), allow to dry and place in a suitable cardboard or other carrier to prevent breakage during transport to laboratory. IF THE LESION IS DRY OR HAS A NECROTIC OR INFLAMMATORY SURFACE: Gently moisten and remove the necrotic debris with a non-absorbent cotton swab which has been pre-moistened in physiologic saline. Discard the swab and debris. Using a second non-absorbent cotton swab, which has been pre-moistened with physiologic saline, gently rub the "growing" margins of the lesion. IMMEDIATE FIXATION IS IMPERATIVE. Quickly roll the swab evenly on a properly labeled frosted-end glass and Immediately spray fix (holding the spray can at least 10-12 inches from the slide), allow to dry and place in a suitable cardboard or other carrier to prevent breakage during transport to laboratory slide.

STAT requests should be kept to a minimum. All STAT requests must be approved by a staff pathologist, and the cytology laboratory notified as soon as possible whenever a STAT is anticipated.

Results on non-GYN are generally available by 5 PM on the day the specimen is accessioned and processed (which is usually the day after specimen collection), unless special stains or other diagnostic procedures are required. Specimens received after 7 AM on Friday and those collected on weekends will be accessioned and processed on Monday. Specimens collected on a holiday will be processed on the next work day. STAT's received in the laboratory by Noon on weekdays will usually be approved. Specimens received after 3 PM on weekdays, at night, weekends and holidays will be accepted only under special circumstances. Turn-around-time for STAT results varies from 1 hour to 4 hours.

The technique used depends on the physical characteristics of the lesion (see Specimen Preparation section below). These specimens should be submitted with a detailed description of the lesion, including the exact location and any appropriate clinical history, including relevant risk factors.