Lab Test

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Miscellaneous Smear

Smear – any body site, Scraping – any body site, Touch prep – any body site, Tzanck smear - skin scraping used specifically for the identification of Herpes, Smear, Miscellaneous, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797

Department

Cytology

Instructions

The Cytology Laboratory can provide slide, spray fixative, and slide carrier for specimen collection: 

  • Dearborn: 313-436-2369
  • Farmington Hills: 947-521-8249
  • Grosse Pointe: 313-473-1801
  • Royal Oak: 248-898-9035
  • Taylor: 313-295-5365
  • Trenton: 734-671-3868
  • Troy: 248-964-9050
  • Wayne: 734-467-4275
  • Outreach: 800-511-0488

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Cellular material from a scraping on a clear glass slide with a frosted end. Label the frosted end with the patient's name and birthdate/MRN prior to specimen collection, using a lead pencil.

  • Label the slide carrier with the EPIC specimen label with the patient's full name, date of birth, medical record number, source of specimen, test ordered, and date of test..
  • Label the frosted end with two patient-specific identifiers (such as patient name and date of birth) prior to specimen collection, using a lead pencil.
  • Specimen may be procured with a spatula or scraper. An optimal scraping specimen includes the cells of the target legion. Any scraping such as a skin, oral, nasal or conjunctival scrapings can be smeared on a slide, spray fixed and cytologically evaluated.
  • Scrape the lesion vigorously and smear the spatula sample across the glass slide longitudinally and spray fix immediately. Make sure the spray fixative is held at least 3 inches from the specimen smear for adequate fixation. Air dry the spray fixed slide and place in a glass slide carrier. (Slide must be dry prior to placing it in a slide carrier.)
  • 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 record 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

Maintain the slide at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport to the Laboratory. Place slide in appropriate slide container for transport. 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Slide container at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). 

Rejection Criteria

  • Improper labeling of slide, specimen container or requisition.
  • Specimen not accompanied by requisition.
  • Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
  • Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation).
  • Slide stuck to cardboard slide carrier due to being placing in carrier while wet
  • Glass coverslip placed on top of specimen on slide and dried together
  • Any specimen received without all 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 – 4:00 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 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 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. 
  • 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:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Indefinite
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Acceptable, but not recommended
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 11 years 

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 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 (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

Smear preparation.

CPT Codes

CPT: 88161
LOINC: 33716-2

Contacts

Last Updated

7/31/2024

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