Hint and Tips to Improve the Quality of your Cytology Submissions

Hint and Tips to Improve the Quality of your Cytology Submissions

Labelling and Identification of sample sites

if more than one site, ensure that all slides are clearly labelled to denote which site. It is often useful to use a number key and explain the key on the submission form (ie 1- chest x 2 slides, 2 – thigh x 2 slides).
Include the location, size, duration & patient information on the submission form.
Please provide a recent history pertinent to the cytology. Providing the pathologist with a concise and relevant patient history will provide you with a more accurate and diagnostically useful report.

Smear Preparation

A push smear is the most commonly used method for fluid aspirates. The same method used when preparing a blood smear.
Stop smear BEFORE end of slide, otherwise important cells disappear over the edge.
Don’t use the droplet technique.
Thicker material can bespread evenly with a second overlaying slide. Gently pull the slides apart to smoothly spread the material.
Impression smears and swabs often only represent the surface process therefore a fine needle aspirate (FNA) is the sample if choice.
if you have a swab, gently ROLL material, don’t smear.

Submission of slides

NEVER submit only 1 slide. 2-4 slides is generally a good submission size.
Leave all slides unstained slide in-house to ensure that a diagnostic sample has been taken before submission to the external lab is always recommended.
Ensure all slides are completely dry before placing in the slide mailer and store at room temperature (Storage of slides in refrigerator causes condensation and lysis).
Send all slides in to the lab (including the stained slide)
Package the slides in a separate bag to any formalin fixed histology samples that are being submitted at the same time. (Formalin fume can cause a fixation artefact on the cytology slides making them non-diagnostic).

Fluid samples that require cytological evaluation and culture should be submitted in an EDTA tube (cytology) & a plain tube (for culture). If only a small volume of fluid is available submit just the plain tube.

Plain tubes suitable are Microcentrifuge/Eppendorf or universal tubes. Plain blood tubes are unsuitable.

Fluid Submission

Body Cavity Effusions

Always submit fluid with pre-prepared slides as direct smears are often not helpful.
Refrigerate the fluid sample if there is a delay in sending to a laboratory.
Please submit a succinct relevant history.

Mass Fluids/Synovial Fluids & Washes

Always submit fluid with pre-prepared slides & provide a succinct relevant history.

Prostatic Wash

Have a low diagnostic accuracy. Neoplastic cells are often not recovered in specimens obtained by prostatic massage and wash. Prostatic massage may produce septicaemia in dogs with acute bacterial prostatitis or a prostatic abscess.
An open direct FNA is best with a biopsy for histopathology if possible.

CSF & Urine