Lab Test

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Body Cavity Fluids

Pleural fluid/wash/thoracentesis, Peritoneal fluid/wash/ascites, Pericardial Fluid, Abdominal Fluid, Cul-de-sac fluid/wash, Paracentesis, Pelvic washing, Gutter washes, Ascites, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797

Department

Cytology

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: A recommended volume of 50 mL - 1000 mL of body cavity fluid in a sterile, non-glass, leak-proof container. (Minimum: 10 mL)

  • Label the specimen container with EPIC specimen labels with the patient's full name, date of birth, hospital number, source of specimen, and date of test. Please indicate specimen laterality ("R" or "L") if appropriate.

  • Large glass collection containers or pleur-evacs will not be accepted as they are dangerous to open and there is a high potential for injury of laboratory personnel.

  • It is strongly recommended to separate the specimen into individual containers to submit to the appropriate laboratories. (i.e. Microbiology, Hematology, Chemistry, Cytology, etc.) 

  • In house cytology specimens should be ordered in EPIC order entry. In the “additional orders” field input “CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN” and fill in all appropriate fields. Cytology test must be ordered under the correct source (ie. Pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid) not the procedure (thoracentesis, paracentesis). Label specimen container and requisition with EPIC specimen labels.

  • All Cytology specimens must be accompanied by a requisition and must include the patient name, hospital and visit number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, physician name and source of specimen. Place an EPIC specimen label on the requisition.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Body fluid specimens should be submitted to the Cytology Laboratory fresh. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the unfixed specimen prior to transport. Do not add anticoagulants or preservatives to the specimen. (Recommended volume: 50 mL-1000 mL, Minimum: 10 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Body cavity fluid in a sterile, non-glass, leak proof container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 10 mL)

Rejection Criteria

  • Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition. 

  • Specimen not accompanied by requisition. 

  • Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen. 

  • Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation). 

  • Submitting specimen in a large glass container or in pleur-evac containers 

  • Specimens that leak outside of specimen container into transport bags. 

  • Specimens contaminated with a foreign material. 

  • Specimens dried up in a cup or frozen. 

  • Any specimen received without all of the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified. 

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Farmington Hills

  • Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (2nd floor, East) Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
  • Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Endoscopy, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.
  • When the Cytology Laboratory is closed, specimens must be delivered to Laboratory Central Processing.

Grosse Pointe

  • Deliver the specimen directly to the AP Laboratory (first level) Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4: pm.  After hours the specimens are taken to the main lab (first floor) and placed in the fridge.
  • Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Clinical Pathology Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. GP surgical specimens are picked up from the main OR every 2 ½ hours.  Endoscopy specimens are delivered to the AP lab throughout the day.
  • When the AP Laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to the Clinical Pathology Specimen Processing area.  Specimens are to be placed in the fridge closest to the door after hours.

Royal Oak

  • Deliver specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (north tower, lower level, west wing) Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 4:30 pm.
  • Specimens are also picked up from the surgical floors, endoscopy and clinical pathology Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Saturday, 7:00 am – 11:00 am. NT and Endoscopy ONLY.
  • When the laboratory is closed specimens may be delivered to the Surgical Pathology Laboratory (located on the lower level near the east tower elevators), clinical pathology specimen receiving (located in the Beaumont Laboratory research building), or the STAT lab.

Troy

  • All specimens must be hand-delivered to the Specimen Reception; phone number: 248-964-8615.

    • NOTE: DO NOT tube large volumes of body fluid – these must be hand delivered.

Dearborn:

  • Deliver the specimen to the main lab drop off window and sign in. Open 24/7.
  • Deliver directly to Cytology:  Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm 
  • Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical area and endoscopy:  Monday – Friday 6:00 am – 4:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
  • When the Cytology lab is closed specimens must be delivered to the main lab window and signed in.

Taylor:

  • Deliver to histology, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
  • After hours:  Deliver the specimen to the main lab. Open 24/7.

Trenton:

  • Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept., Interventional Radiology, and operating rooms from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
  • After hours deliver specimens to the main lab. Open 24/7.

Wayne:

  • Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept. and Interventional Radiology from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
  • After hours deliver specimen to the main lab. Open 24/7.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Specimen must be refrigerated immediately upon procurement.
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Remaining unfixed Specimen: Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Specimen fixed in ThinPrep® PreservCyt solution:

Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) :14 days, Dearborn 7 days  

Laboratory

Dearborn Cytology Laboratory
Taylor, Trenton and Wayne specimens are sent to Dearborn Cytology Laboratory for preparation, screening and issuing final results. 

Trenton specimens are sent to Dearborn Cytology Laboratory for preparation and screening.  Final results are issued by Trenton hospital.

Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory
Grosse Pointe and Farmington Hills specimens are sent to Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory for preparation and screening.  Final results are issued by originating hospital.

Troy Cytology Laboratory (most are prepared and screened at Royal Oak Cytology) 

Performed

Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 4:30 pm (Royal Oak).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (Farmington Hills).
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm (Troy).
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Grosse Pointe).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm (Dearborn).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Taylor).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Trenton).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Wayne).

Most results are available within 24-48 hours of receipt in the Cytology Laboratory if received Monday – Friday. The Cytology Laboratory is closed on weekends and holidays. Specimens received after 3:00 pm on Friday will be processed the following Monday and resulted on Tuesday Specimens received after 3:00 pm the day before a holiday will be processed the next working day and resulted out the following day. 

Test Methodology

ThinPrep® monolayer, and (if possible) cell block preparation. 

CPT Codes

CPT (All Sites): 88112, 88305 (Cell block preparation, if possible). 
LOINC: 33716-2. 

Contacts

Last Updated

9/27/2022

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