Instructions for Collection and Transport

Specimen will be collected by physician and labeled with 2 patient identifiers and site identifying words. NOTE Patient’s name and medical record number or date of birth must be written in pencil on frosted end of the slide. Dip slide in sterile saline and shake off excess. Roll brush with specimen onto glass slide and immediately spray with fixative or submerge in 95% ethanol. In addition, the end of the brush can be clipped off and placed in a separate, clean, labeled leak- proof container with enough saline to cover the brush and sent along with the glass slides for processing in the laboratory. If more than one site is sampled, site specific identifying words must be present on appropriate specimen containers. Cytology Epic order must contain the following information: source of specimen, patient’s clinical findings, prior treatment, and previous biopsy results. Internal specimens should be transported to Cytology or CSR Laboratory immediately. Remote specimens should be transported at room temperture or refrigerated on freezer packs if including brush tip in saline. Specimen should reach Main Campus Laboratory within 12 hours for optimum preparation.