CYTOLOGY, FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION (WITH OR WITHOUT RADIOLOGICAL GUIDANCE)
Marquette General Health System

General Info

HLAB/HOL Code

  CYTO. RQN.

MGH LIS Test No

  459

Schedule

  Monday-Friday

Testing Time

  1 day

Testing Lab

  Marquette General Hospital

QORR Test Code

  CYTO. RQN.

Specimen Info

Type

  Fine needle aspiration  

Volume

   

Temperature

   

Preservative

  CytoLyt Solution

Collection Info

  1.  Locate the mass and disinfect the area.
2.  Apply local anesthesia on/in the area to be needled.
3.  Introduce needle into mass.  Create and maintain negative pressure.
4.  Sample specimen area vigorously on several planes, maintaining the
     negative pressure.  
     NOTE: Specimen may be only in the barrel of the needle and not in
     the syringe. Just because there is not any specimen visible in the
     syringe, does not mean that an adequate specimen has not been
     obtained.
5.  Release the plunger of the syringe to equalize the pressure.
6.  Withdraw the needle from the mass.
7.  Immediately rise the barrel of the needle in 30ml CytoLyt Solution by
     aspirating approximately 2ml of the preservative into the syringe and
     expressing the material back into the container with the remaining 
     CytoLyt Solution.
8.  Label the container with the patient's name, hospital number and the
     date of collection. 
9.  Deliver the specimen to the MGH Cytology Department as soon as
     possible. CytoLyt Solution is a methanol based transport media that
     will preserve cells for eight days at room temperature.
10. Marquette General Hospital inpatient specimens without preservative
     should be delivered immediately to the Cytology Department.

NOTE:  Pertinent clinical information regarding previous malignancy,
drugs, radiation therapy, or history of alcohol abuse or smoking is 
required for processing.

**For alternative collection methods or preservatives, please contact the
MGH Cytology Department.
 
Specimen Acceptability

Methods
Automated-Thin Prep Processor

Clinical Utilities

CPT Codes
88173

The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidelines
and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the
sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions
regarding coding to the payer being billed.

Reference Range
An interpretive report will be sent.

Component Information

Collection Notes

Additional Comments

 

Questions or Comments email support@mgh.org

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