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Fine Needle Aspiration, Superficial - Troy

FNA, Needle aspirate, Fine needle biopsy, FNB, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL (NON-GYN/FNA)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797, SOFT: CYT

Instructions

Slides, spray fixative, saline, and ThinPrep^® Cytolyt vials are available by contacting the Cytology Laboratory at 248-964-9050 (extension 49050).

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Fill the hub of a 10 cc luer lock syringe with cellular material from the target area, using a 23 gauge or smaller needle.

• Using a lead pencil only, label the frosted end of the glass slide with at least  two patient's specific identifiers (MRN#, D.O.B. and source of specimen). 
• Each pass into the lesion must be identified separately (i.e. 1, 2, 3,...) on the glass slide.
• Draw approximately 1/2 cc of air into a 10 cc luer lock syringe.
• Place needle into palpable lump or bump and apply negative pressure in order to aspirate specimen. Continue to apply negative pressure until the hub of the syringe is full.
• Release negative pressure, withdraw the needle from the patient, and expel onto a clear glass slide.
• Using a clear glass slide, smear the specimen on the first slide lengthwise.
• Immediately spray fix one slide. Spray should be about 3 inches from the slide. Allow the other slide from the same pass to air dry.
• Place all slides in slide carrier.
• Rinse the needle in saline.
• Cystic fluid should be placed in saline or placed in the ThinPrep® Cytolyt vial or may remain in the syringe with a safety cap (no needle). Note on the specimen container the amount of cystic fluid retrieved and the color of the fluid retrieved.  
• Label the specimen container with the patient name, hospital number, source of specimen, and date of test.
• In house cytology specimens should be ordered in EPIC order entry. In the “additional orders” field input “CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL (NON-GYN/FNA)” and fill in all appropriate fields. IMPORTANT: ORDER AND SIGN EACH CYTOLOGY TEST INDIVIDUALLY. THE LABORATORY INFORMATION SYSTEM CANNOT FILE MULTIPLE TESTS ORDERED IN THE SAME SESSION AND SOME ORDERS MAY BE LOST. Label specimen container and requisition with SOFT ID labels.
• All Cytology specimens must be accompanied by a requisition and must include the patient name, hospital and visit number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, physician name and source of specimen.   

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain the fixed and air-dried slides, and ThinPrep^® Cytolyt vials, at room temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F) prior to transport. Maintain the saline needle rinse refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Fixed slides, air-dried slides, and ThinPrep^® Cytolyt vials at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F), and saline needle rinse, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition.
• Specimens placed in cardboard carrier with wet fixative resulting in the slide sticking to the cardboard.
• Specimen not accompanied by requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation).
• Any specimen received without all of the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Endoscopy, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. 
• After hours, on weekends and during holidays specimens must be delivered to the Department of Specimen Reception (Lower Level, Area D) or tubed to the Specimen Reception tube station #201 (248-964-8030).  

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Fixed FNA Slides
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 30 years
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Acceptable, but not recommended
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Fixed FNA Slides and ThinPrep, PreservCyt, Cytolyt Vials 
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 14 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Acceptable, but not recommended
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Needle Rinses in Saline
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Specimen must be refrigerated immediately upon procurement
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal: 

Slides – Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 30 years
Needle Rinse in Saline – Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Needle Rinse in ThinPrep Cytolyt – Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days 

Laboratory

Troy Cytology Laboratory

Performed

Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Results available within 24-36 hours of receipt in the Cytology Laboratory, if received Monday – Friday. The Cytology Laboratory is closed on weekends and holidays. Specimens received after 3:00 pm on Friday will be processed the following Monday, and resulted on Tuesday.

Test Methodology

Smear Preparation, ThinPrep^® Monolayer Preparation, Cell Block Preparation (if possible), and Cytospin Preparation (if applicable).

CPT Codes

CPT: 88104, 88112, 88305, 88108.
LOINC: 33716-2.

Contacts

Last Updated

3/17/2021