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Sputum

Sputum for Cytology, Deep cough sputum, Cytology, Non-Gyn Respiratory Specimen, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN, MEDICAL CYTOLOGY REQUEST

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB2111297

Department

Cytology

Instructions

Sputum specimens are often ordered x 3. Each sputum must be collected on three separate mornings. Each sputum must have a different collection date and must be registered as three separate visits (when the patient is an outpatient).

For questions regarding specimen collection and transport, please contact 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 

Royal Oak:

Sputum for Cytology Kits can be picked up from the Cytology Laboratory (North Tower, Lower Level, West Wing), Monday – Friday, 6:00 am – 6:00 pm, or can be picked up from the Surgical Pathology Laboratory located near the East Tower elevators when the Cytology Laboratory is closed. Sputum for Cytology Kits include 3 Green-top or Lavender-top 50.0 mL tubes with CytoLyt^® fixative, 3 Cytology requisitions and instructions on how to collect a sputum sample. CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE KIT PRIOR TO COLLECTING THE SPUTUM. 

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Troy, Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton and Wayne: Sputum in a sterile collection container. (Minimum: 2.0 mL) 

Royal Oak: Sputum sample in a collection tube provided in the Sputum for Cytology collection kit.

• Collect sputum specimen in the morning before the patient eats. Patient must rinse mouth out with plain water and discard the rinse water. Royal Oak: DO NOT let patient rinse with or swallow the CytoLyt^® solution. 
• Patient should cough deeply and deposit only those secretions raised from the chest into the sputum collection container. Secure the lid tightly.
• Royal Oak: shake the specimen vigorously to evenly distribute the CytoLyt^® solution.
• Label the specimen container with an EPIC specimen label with the patient name, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test.
• 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 record and visit/CSN number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, ordering physician name and source of specimen. Place EPIC specimen label on the requisition.
  

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Trenton, Troy & Wayne:
Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Royal Oak:
Maintain fixed specimens at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport. 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 

Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, and Troy:
Sputum in a sterile collection container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Royal Oak:
Sputum in a sealed ThinPrep^® Cytolyt container, room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).   

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen.
• Specimens contaminated with a foreign material.
• Specimens dried up in a cup or frozen.
• Specimens that leak outside of specimen container into transport bags. 
• 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 – 5:00 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, 6:00 am – 4:30 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, 8:00 am – 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, 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 the 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 from 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: phone number 248-964-8615.

Wayne

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

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Fresh 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

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

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

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

CytoLyt^® fixed:
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 – 4:30 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).

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 only, routine processing.  

CPT Codes

CPT: 88112
LOINC: 33716-2

Contacts

Last Updated

9/30/2025