Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology With Immediate Assessment

Smears will be prepared by the cytotechnologist when present. Radiologist collects specimen. If technologist is not present follow this procedure for preparing slides.

• Fill Pap jar with 95% ethyl alcohol

• Using a graphite pencil, label slides with patient's last name and first initial.

• Localize mass.

• Disinfect area.

• Apply local anesthesia on/in area to be needled.

• Introduce needle into mass. Create negative pressure and maintain.

• Sample area vigorously on several planes, maintaining the negative pressure. Note: Sample may be only in barrel of needle not in syringe. If no specimen is seen in syringe it does not mean an adequate sample has not been obtained!

• Release the plunger of the syringe to equalize pressure.

• Withdraw the needle from the mass.

• Place bevel of needle directly on one of the glass slides (in approximately the center of the slide).

• Express one to two drops of material onto this glass slide.

• Visible material expressed?

• Place the other glass slide on top of the first, and gently pull the slides apart − dispensing the material on the slides evenly.

• Important!! Place the slides back to back, in the jar of fixative immediately!

• No material expressed?

• Make a second attempt to express material on slide by first removing the needle from syringe. Pull back on syringe plunger, then place needle back onto syringe. Express one to two drops of material on the slide. If no material is expressed on the slide, rinse the barrel of the needle by aspirating saline into the barrel of the needle by aspirating saline into the syringe and expressing the saline wash into a clean container.

• Add an equal volume of Saccomanno fixative to this fluid.

• Attach the request form and transport the specimen to the laboratory.

Slides in 95% ethyl alcohol will maintain well at room temperature. Saline wash of needle with Saccomanno fixative added in equal volume will maintain well at room temperature. Saline wash without fixative must be refrigerated and transported to cytology as soon as possible.

Improper labeling; improper fixation; air-drying artifact; specimen submitted in vial that expired according to manufacturer's label; frozen specimen