Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Miscellaneous Smear

Smear: any body site, Scraping: any body site, Touch prep: any body site, Smear, Miscellaneous, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN, MEDICAL CYTOLOGY REQUEST

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB2111297

Department

Cytology

Instructions

The Cytology Laboratory can provide slide, spray fixative, and slide carrier for specimen collection: 

• Dearborn: 313-436-2369
• Farmington Hills: 947-521-8249
• 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: Cellular material from a scraping on a clear glass slide with a frosted end. Label the frosted end with the patient's name and birthdate/MRN prior to specimen collection, using a lead pencil.

• Label the slide carrier with the EPIC specimen label with the patient's full name, date of birth, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test.
• Label the frosted end with two patient-specific identifiers (such as patient name and date of birth) prior to specimen collection, using a lead pencil.
• Specimen may be procured with a spatula or scraper. An optimal scraping specimen includes the cells of the target legion. Any scraping such as a skin, oral, nasal or conjunctival scrapings can be smeared on a slide, spray fixed and cytologically evaluated.
• Scrape the lesion vigorously and smear the spatula sample across the glass slide longitudinally and spray fix immediately. Make sure the spray fixative is held at least 3 inches from the specimen smear for adequate fixation. Air dry the spray fixed slide and place in a glass slide carrier. (Slide must be dry prior to placing it in a slide carrier.)
• 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.
• All Cytology specimens should be accompanied by a requisition and must include the patient name, medical record 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.
• 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 the slide at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport to the Laboratory. Place slide in appropriate slide container for transport. 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Slide container at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). 

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of slide, specimen container or requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation).
• Slide stuck to cardboard slide carrier due to being placing in carrier while wet
• Glass coverslip placed on top of specimen on slide and dried together
• Any specimen received without all 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 – 5:00 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 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 specimens 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 specimens to the Main Lab. Open 24/7. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

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

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

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).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:30 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).

Test Methodology

Smear preparation.

CPT Codes

CPT: 88161
LOINC: 33716-2

Contacts

Last Updated

10/1/2025