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Miscellaneous Fluids

Synovial fluid, Mediastinal fluid, Vitreous fluid, Fluids, Miscellaneous, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN, MEDICAL CYTOLOGY REQUEST

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB2111297

Department

Cytology

Instructions

• Examples of Miscellaneous Fluids include Mediastinal Fluid, Synovial Fluid, etc.
• See Body Cavity Fluids for handling of Pleural, Peritoneal, or Pericardial Fluid.

Specimen Collection Criteria

• Label the specimen container with an EPIC specimen label with the patient's full name, date of birth, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test. Please indicate specimen laterality ("R" or "L") if appropriate.
• In-house Cytology specimens should be ordered in EPIC order entry. In the “additional orders” field input “MEDICAL CYTOLOGY REQUEST” and fill in all appropriate fields. Label specimen container and requisition 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, medical and visit/CSN number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, ordering physician name and source of specimen. Place an EPIC specimen label on the requisition.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Miscellaneous fluid specimens should be submitted to the Cytology Laboratory fresh. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the unfixed specimen prior to transport. Do not add anticoagulants or preservatives to the specimen. (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Miscellaneous fluid in a sterile, non-glass, leak-proof container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

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.
• Specimens submitted in glass containers
• Any specimen received without all of the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified.
• Specimens that leak outside of specimen container into transport bags. 

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 – 5:00 pm, 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 window and signed in.

Farmington Hills

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (2nd floor, East): Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:30 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 pm 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, 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 Clinical Pathology Specimen Receiving (located in the Corewell Health Laboratory Research Building), or STAT Lab.

Taylor

• Deliver to Histology: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. 
• After hours: Deliver the specimen to the Main Lab. Open 24/7.

Trenton

• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Department, Interventional Radiology, and operating rooms, Monday –  Friday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
• After hours deliver specimens to the Main Lab. Open 24/7.

Troy

• All specimens must be hand-delivered to the Specimen Reception Department, phone number: 248-964-8615.

Wayne

• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Department and Interventional Radiology, Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
• After hours deliver specimen to the Main Lab. Open 24/7. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

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:

Remaining unfixed Specimen:
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Specimen fixed in ThinPrep  Cytolyt^® Solution:
Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 14 days

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).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (Farmington Hills).
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (Grosse Pointe).
Monday – Friday, 6:00 am – 6:00 pm (Royal Oak).
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Taylor).
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Trenton).
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm (Troy).
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Wayne).

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 and (if possible) cell block preparation. 

CPT Codes

88112, 88305 (Cell block preparation, if possible).
LOINC: 33716-2

Contacts

Last Updated

9/29/2025