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Ordering Recommendations

Whenever possible, only submit during regular working hours, Monday - Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM

Request through EPIC by selecting CYTOPATH NONGYN
- For manual non-EPIC requisitions use Cytopathology Form 151-805 (Example of Form 151-805)
  - If you do not have this form available, visit Pulse - Supply Chain Management for instructions on how to obtain this form.
The order must include the following:
- Clinical History
- ICD-10 Coding
- Collection Date and Time
- Requesting physician’s PID number
ALL CYTOLOGY SPECIMENS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH A PAPER REQUISITION. NO FUTURE OR STANDING ORDERS ARE ACCEPTED.
ALL Cytology specimens must be delivered or sent via courier to the CYTOLOGY LAB in JACOB’s MEDICAL CENTER LL-503. Normal business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. ALL SPECIMENS MUST BE LOGGED in the CYTOLOGY DROP-OFF LOG.
- For delivery after hours, weekends, and holidays place the specimen in the Cytology After-Hours Refrigerator located on the left upon entering the Pathology Lab.

For patients with KNOWN PRION DISEASE OR SUSPECTED PRION DISEASE, Cytology is not helpful in diagnosing the status of PRION DISEASE.

Please reach out to the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University for testing options and sending instructions.
If processing for Cytology is desired, please:
- Label the specimen with the proper biohazard labels
- Inform the Cytology Laboratory before sending the specimen
- Ensure courier staff are aware of the specimen hazard

Performed

Monday - Friday

Methodology

Routine Cytopathologic Evaluation

Reported

Routine: 2 working days (Monday - Friday)

Synonyms

Cerebrospinal Fluid, Cytology
Fluid, Cerebrospinal, Cytology
Spinal Fluid, Cytology
Fluid, Spinal, Cytology
CSF, Cytology
Spinal Tap, Cytology
Cytology, Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cytology, Fluid, Cerebrospinal
Cytology, Spinal Fluid
Cytology, Fluid, Spinal
Cytology, CSF
Cytology, Spinal Tap
Non Gynecologic Cytology
Cytology, Non-Gynecologic
Cytopathology
Diff-Quik Stain
Diff-Quick Stain
Modified Romanowsky Stain
Papanicolau Stain
Pap Stain
Anatomic Pathology

Performing Lab

Anatomic Pathology

Turnaround Time

Rush Orders:
* CSF cases are always treated as RUSH and must be processed and given right away to a Cytologist or the attending Pathologist

Add-on Eligibility

Specimen Type

CSF

Specimen Volume

5 mL (Minimum: 1 mL)

Collection Container

Sterile Container

Unacceptable Conditions

Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions
Collection Location	Transport Temperature	Processing Required	Timeframe
ED/Inpatient	Room Temperature	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 hours of collection
ED/Inpatient	Refrigerated (On-Ice)	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site	Room Temperature	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site	Refrigerated (On-Ice)	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:

Room Temperature: 3 hours
Refrigerated: 2 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 1 week

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection:

Obtain specimen via lumbar puncture and collect into a sterile container

3 or 4 tubes are typically collected during this procedure
- Tubes should be numbered according to the order of collection

Send specimen fresh without adding any fixative to the container

DO NOT submit tube #1 for Cytology due to high potential for blood and skin cell contamination

Specimen Container/Labeling:

Ensure that the cap on the sterile container is tightly secured to prevent leaking.
The specimen submitted to Cytology must be labeled with the following patient information:

First and Last Name
Medical Record Number
CSN Number

Refrigerate specimen if unable to immediately transport to laboratory

Reference Interval

By Report

Ordering

Ordering Recommendations

Whenever possible, only submit during regular working hours, Monday - Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM

Request through EPIC by selecting CYTOPATH NONGYN
- For manual non-EPIC requisitions use Cytopathology Form 151-805 (Example of Form 151-805)
  - If you do not have this form available, visit Pulse - Supply Chain Management for instructions on how to obtain this form.
The order must include the following:
- Clinical History
- ICD-10 Coding
- Collection Date and Time
- Requesting physician’s PID number
ALL CYTOLOGY SPECIMENS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH A PAPER REQUISITION. NO FUTURE OR STANDING ORDERS ARE ACCEPTED.
ALL Cytology specimens must be delivered or sent via courier to the CYTOLOGY LAB in JACOB’s MEDICAL CENTER LL-503. Normal business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. ALL SPECIMENS MUST BE LOGGED in the CYTOLOGY DROP-OFF LOG.
- For delivery after hours, weekends, and holidays place the specimen in the Cytology After-Hours Refrigerator located on the left upon entering the Pathology Lab.

For patients with KNOWN PRION DISEASE OR SUSPECTED PRION DISEASE, Cytology is not helpful in diagnosing the status of PRION DISEASE.

Please reach out to the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University for testing options and sending instructions.
If processing for Cytology is desired, please:
- Label the specimen with the proper biohazard labels
- Inform the Cytology Laboratory before sending the specimen
- Ensure courier staff are aware of the specimen hazard

Performed

Monday - Friday

Methodology

Routine Cytopathologic Evaluation

Reported

Routine: 2 working days (Monday - Friday)

Synonyms

Cerebrospinal Fluid, Cytology
Fluid, Cerebrospinal, Cytology
Spinal Fluid, Cytology
Fluid, Spinal, Cytology
CSF, Cytology
Spinal Tap, Cytology
Cytology, Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cytology, Fluid, Cerebrospinal
Cytology, Spinal Fluid
Cytology, Fluid, Spinal
Cytology, CSF
Cytology, Spinal Tap
Non Gynecologic Cytology
Cytology, Non-Gynecologic
Cytopathology
Diff-Quik Stain
Diff-Quick Stain
Modified Romanowsky Stain
Papanicolau Stain
Pap Stain
Anatomic Pathology

Performing Lab

Anatomic Pathology

Turnaround Time

Rush Orders:
* CSF cases are always treated as RUSH and must be processed and given right away to a Cytologist or the attending Pathologist

Add-on Eligibility

Collection

Specimen Type

CSF

Specimen Volume

5 mL (Minimum: 1 mL)

Collection Container

Sterile Container

Unacceptable Conditions

Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions
Collection Location	Transport Temperature	Processing Required	Timeframe
ED/Inpatient	Room Temperature	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 hours of collection
ED/Inpatient	Refrigerated (On-Ice)	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site	Room Temperature	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site	Refrigerated (On-Ice)	None	Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:

Room Temperature: 3 hours
Refrigerated: 2 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 1 week

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection:

Obtain specimen via lumbar puncture and collect into a sterile container

3 or 4 tubes are typically collected during this procedure
- Tubes should be numbered according to the order of collection

Send specimen fresh without adding any fixative to the container

DO NOT submit tube #1 for Cytology due to high potential for blood and skin cell contamination

Specimen Container/Labeling:

Ensure that the cap on the sterile container is tightly secured to prevent leaking.
The specimen submitted to Cytology must be labeled with the following patient information:

First and Last Name
Medical Record Number
CSN Number

Refrigerate specimen if unable to immediately transport to laboratory

Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

By Report

Ordering Recommendations

Performed

Methodology

Reported

Synonyms

Performing Lab

Turnaround Time

Add-on Eligibility

Specimen Type

Specimen Volume

Collection Container

Unacceptable Conditions

Storage/Transport Temperature

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Collection Instructions

Reference Interval

Ordering Recommendations

Performed

Methodology

Reported

Synonyms

Performing Lab

Turnaround Time

Add-on Eligibility

Specimen Type

Specimen Volume

Collection Container

Unacceptable Conditions

Storage/Transport Temperature

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Collection Instructions

Reference Interval

Print Options

Containers / Tabs

Processing...