Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Bronchoalveolar Lavage

1. Attach a patient identification label to a 120-mL screw-capped, sterile container or other acceptable specimen container. Handwrite Silver Stain on label.

2. Collect specimen

3. Do not fix

4. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

Alternate:

Bronchial Washing

1. Attach a patient identification label to a 120-mL screw-capped, sterile container or other acceptable specimen container. Handwrite Silver Stain on label.

2. Collect specimen

3. Do not fix

4. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

Sputum Collection

1. Attach a patient identification label to a 120-mL screw-capped, sterile container or other acceptable specimen container. Handwrite Silver Stain on label.

2. Instruct patient to take 3 deep breaths and hold each momentarily.

3. Then have patient cough deeply into a screw-capped container.

4. Do not fix

5. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

Specimen Collection

1. Specimen rejection criteria is based on improper specimen labeling, collection, handling, or submission.

A. Frozen specimen

B. Specimen that is contaminated on outside of collection container

C. Specimen that has leaked into plastic biohazard bag

D. No non-gynecologic cytology requisition form

E. Name on requisition does not match name on specimen container

F. Unlabeled specimen container. Two patient identifiers are required on specimen container.

G. No physician’s name

H. If rejection compromises patient care (one-time specimen such as Silver Stain for Pneumocystis carinii or STAT request) laboratory personnel will contact a pathologist to determine if specimen will be tested.

2. Label specimen container with patient’s full first and last name, date of birth, date of collection, specimen source, and submitting physician’s name.

3. If immediate results are needed, write STAT on requisition.

4. Complete a non-gynecologic cytology requisition form. Include the following information:

A. Patient’s full first and last name

B. Date of birth

C. Medical record or Social Security number

D. Date of collection

E. Submitting physician’s name. Include names of physicians to receive cytology report copies.

F. Specimen source

G. Pertinent clinical information

H. Handwrite for Silver Stain for PCP on requisition.

5. Place specimen in a plastic biohazard bag and insert non-gynecologic cytology requisition form into separate paper pouch.