Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Bronchial Brushing

Collect bronchial brush specimen and submit to laboratory as follows:

1. Write patient’s full first and last name, date of birth, date of collection, and specimen source on frosted-end of a microscope slide using a lead pencil.

2. Sample suspected lesion with bronchial brush.

3. Place specimen onto labeled microscopic slide.

4. Roll brush across lower 2/3 of slide to create a thin cell spread.

5. Immediately place slide into a Coplin jar container 95% alcohol.

6. After brushing is completed, place bronchial brush into a prefilled Cytospin fixative container.

Bronchial Washing

Collect bronchial washing and submit as follows:

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

2. Aspirate washing into sterile container and set aside until end of procedure.

Specimen Collection

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

2. 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

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

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

A. Clotted or 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.