Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Sputum - Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe & Troy

Sputum for Cytology, Deep cough sputum, Cytology, Non-Gyn Respiratory Specimen, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL (NON-GYN/FNA)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797, SOFT: CYT

Instructions

For questions regarding specimen collection and transport, please contact the Cytology Laboratory.

• Farmington Hills: 947-521-8249.
• Grosse Pointe: 313-473-1850 or extension 1850.
• Troy: 248-964-9050 or extension 49050.
• Outreach: 800-551-0488. 

Specimen Collection Criteria

• Fresh, unfixed sputum is preferred.
• Collect sputum specimen in the morning before the patient eats. Patient must rinse mouth out with plain water and discard the rinse water.
• Patient should cough deeply and deposit only those secretions raised from the chest into the sputum collection container. Secure the lid tightly.
• 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 specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Sputum in a sterile collection container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition.
• Any specimen received without all of the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified.
• Specimen not accompanied by requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen.
• Specimens that leak outside of specimen container into transport bags.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Farmington Hills

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (2nd floor, East) Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• When the Cytology Laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to Laboratory Central Processing.

Grosse Pointe

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (first level) Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Clinical Pathology, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• When the Cytology Laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to the Clinical Pathology Specimen Processing area.

Troy

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (lower level, area D) Monday–Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Endoscopy Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• When the Cytology laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to the Department of Specimen Reception, tube station #201 (extension 48030).     

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:

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

Laboratory

Farmington Hills Cytology Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Cytology 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

Farmington Hills: Smear Preparation and Cell Block Preparation, if possible.
Grosse Pointe: ThinPrep^® Monolayer Preparation, Smear Preparation, and Cell Block Preparation, if possible.
Troy: ThinPrep^® Monolayer Preparation or Smears. 

CPT Codes

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

Contacts

Last Updated

11/2/2020