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Fine Needle Aspiration, Thyroid

FNA, Needle aspirate, Fine needle biopsy, FNB, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL FNA, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Cytology

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB2111263

Department

Cytology

Instructions

ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution is available by contacting the Cytology Laboratory:

• Dearborn: 313-436-2369
• Farmington Hills: 947-521-8247
• Grosse Pointe: 313-473-1801
• Royal Oak: 248-898-9035
• Taylor: 313-295-5365
• Trenton: 734-671-3868
• Troy: 248-964-9050
• Wayne: 734-467-4275
• Outreach: 800-511-0488

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect:

• Place an EPIC specimen label on a container filled with 20.0 mls of ThinPrep CytoLyt Solution^®. Write the specific specimen source on the label
• Draw approximately 1/2 cc of air into a 10.0 cc luer lock syringe.
• Place 23 gauge or smaller 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. If Cytology staff is attending the procedure (Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, Troy, Farmington Hills) they will label and prepare sides and collect needle rinsing in ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution. If Cytology is not attending the procedure expel the entire pass into container of ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution.
• If there is a request for collection for potential Afirma testing – Complete Afirma requisition, collect last two passes into FNAprotect tubes with requisition label corresponding to nodule being sampled (put patient initials on Afirma label). Recap tube and gently invert tube 3 times to mix. Submit FNAprotect tubes and requisition in same specimen bag with Cytolyt sample(s) and Cytology requisition from the same patient.
• If Hematologic malignancy is suspected dedicate two additional passes into a container of Tissue Culture Medium (RPMI) for flow cytometry testing and transport immediately or refrigerate.
• In house cytology specimens should be ordered in EPIC order entry. In the “additional orders” field input “Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Cytology” and fill in all appropriate fields. Label specimen container and requisitions with EPIC specimen labels which contain patient name, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test.
• All Cytology specimens should 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. Place an EPIC specimen label on the requisition.
• It is imperative when submitting multiple specimens on the same patient that the labels on the requisition and vial match the correct EPIC order to ensure proper source/collection type to be assigned to the specimens.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport. Refrigerate needle rinsing collected in Tissue Culture Medium (RPMI) prior to transport. 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Maintain ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation).
• Specimens contaminated with a foreign material.
• Specimens dried up in a cup or frozen.
• Slide stuck to cardboard slide carrier due to being placed in carrier while wet
• 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

Dearborn

• Deliver directly to Cytology, Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm. Deliver directly to Histology Lab, Monday – Friday 6:00 am – 5:00pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, closed on Sunday.
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical area and endoscopy. Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• When the Cytology and Histology labs are closed specimens must be delivered to the main lab and signed in.

Farmington Hills

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (2nd floor, East) Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm. 
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Endoscopy, Monday – Friday, at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. 
• After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends/holidays, deliver to Lab Central Processing. 

Grosse Pointe

• Deliver the specimen directly to the AP lab (first level) Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm.  After hours, the specimens are taken to the Clinical Pathology main lab (lower level), entered in the specimen log, handed to lab staff and placed in the refrigerator.
• Specimens are picked up by the AP lab staff throughout the day from the Surgical Department and Clinical Pathology main lab Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:00 pm.  Endoscopy and radiology specimens are delivered to the AP Lab throughout the day.
• When the AP Laboratory is closed, specimens are delivered to the Clinical Pathology main lab specimen processing area.  Specimens are to be entered into the specimen log, handed to lab staff and placed in the refrigerator.

Royal Oak

• Deliver specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (North Tower, Lower Level, West Wing) Monday – Friday, 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.
• Specimens are also picked up from the surgical floors, Endoscopy and Clinical Pathology, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Saturday 7:00 am – 11:00 am, NT and Endoscopy ONLY.
• When the laboratory is closed specimens may be delivered to the Surgical Pathology Laboratory (located on the lower level near the east tower elevators) or clinical pathology specimen receiving (located in the Beaumont Laboratory research building), or STAT Lab.

Troy

• 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 hand-delivered to the Specimen Reception Department Phone: 248-964-8615.

Taylor:

• Thyroid FNAs performed on Wednesdays only.
• Deliver the specimen to the histology lab from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Trenton:

• Thyroid FNAs performed Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm.
• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept., Interventional Radiology, and operating rooms from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Wayne:

• FNAs performed Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 and 11:00 appointments.
• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept. and Interventional Radiology from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

ThinPrep CytoLyt^® Solution
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 14 days, 7 days at Dearborn
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable 

Needle rinsing in Tissue Culture Medium (RPMI)
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable 

Fixed Archived FNA SlidesRoom Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 11 years

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Needle rinse in Tissue Culture Medium (RPMI)
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Needle rinse in ThinPrep PreservCyt/Cytolyt^®
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 14 days 

Fixed Archived FNA Slides
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 11 years  

Laboratory

Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Trenton, Troy, and Wayne Cytology Laboratories

Original specimen registration is performed prior to sending to Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory.

Final results on specimens from Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, and Dearborn are issued by the Dearborn hospital. 

Final results on Farmington Hills and Troy specimens are issued by the  originating hospitals.

Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory

Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, Grosse Pointe, Troy, and Farmington Hills specimens are sent to Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory for preparation and screening. 

Final results on Grosse Pointe and Royal Oak specimens are issued by the Royal Oak hospital.

Performed

Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm (Dearborn) Attend FNAs 7:30 am – 2:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm (Farmington Hills). Attend FNAs 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (Grosse Pointe).
Monday – Friday, 6:00 am – 6:00 pm (Royal Oak).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 2:00 pm (Taylor) Attend FNAs Wednesdays, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 2:00 pm (Trenton) Attend FNAs Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm (Troy). Attend FNAs 8:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Wayne) Attend FNAs Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10:00 am, 11:00 am. 

Most results are available within 24-48 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 Specimens received after 3:00 pm the day before a holiday will be processed the next working day and resulted out the following day. 

Test Methodology

ThinPrep^® Monolayer Preparation, smear preparations optional, cell block preparation as needed. 

CPT Codes

CPT: 88173, 88182, 88305 (Cell block preparation, as needed).

LOINC: 33716-2 

Contacts

Last Updated

9/29/2025