Specimen Requirements

Wet lesions are more diagnostic; if lesions are dry, moisten with wet compresses for 30 minutes to soften lesion and collect specimen as follows:

1. Using a lead pencil, label frosted end of glass slide with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and source/site of specimen.

2. Scrape lesion firmly, being sure to obtain material from base of lesion.

3. Immediately smear specimen evenly onto a glass slide using a rolling motion.

4. Fix slide immediately with cytology spray fixative or immerse in 95% alcohol  before slide dries. Hold spray about 12 inches away from slide.

5. Place slide in a slide/cardboard holder.

6. Deliver to Cytology Laboratory.

Note:  1. The following specimens will be returned to the submitting physician:

A. No requisition form

B. Name on requisition does not match name on specimen

C. Broken slide that cannot be reconstructed

D. Unlabeled specimen

E. Fixation in formalin

F. Air-drying artifact

G. Slide adhered to cardboard holder

2. Please complete and submit an “Anatomic Pathology Request Form” stock form #320-1415.

3. Place specimen in a plastic specimen bag with request form inserted into pocket separate from specimen.