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Miscellaneous Fluids

Synovial fluid, Mediastinal fluid, Vitreous fluid, Fluids, Miscellaneous, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797

Department

Cytology

Instructions

• Examples of miscellaneous fluids include mediastinal fluid, synovial fluid, etc.
• See Body Cavity Fluids for handling of pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial fluid.

Specimen Collection Criteria

• Label the specimen container with an EPIC specimen label with the patient's full name, date of birth, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test. Please indicate specimen laterality ("R" or "L") if appropriate.
• 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. Label specimen container and requisition with EPIC specimen labels.
• All Cytology specimens must be accompanied by a requisition and must include the patient name, medical and visit/CSN number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, ordering physician name and source of specimen. Place an EPIC specimen label on the requisition.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Miscellaneous 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. (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Miscellaneous fluid in a sterile, non-glass, leak-proof container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 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).
• Specimens contaminated with a foreign material.
• Specimens dried up in a cup or frozen.
• Specimens submitted in glass containers
• Any specimen received without all of the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified.
• Specimens that leak outside of specimen container into transport bags. 

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 – 4:00 pm.
• 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 very 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 STAT Lab.

Troy

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

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. 
• Deliver directly to Histology lab, Monday – Friday open 24 hours, Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, closed on Sunday.
• 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  Cytolyt^® 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. 

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 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 (Farmington Hills).
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 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 preparation and (if possible) cell block preparation. 

CPT Codes

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

Contacts

Last Updated

9/27/2022