Cytology

Touch Imprints ("Impression Smears")
1. Rapid Dx of some external lesions & excised tissues (may be subsequently examined by histopath)
2. Yield fewer cells than scrapings
3. Risk of only detecting surface inflammation/blood or contaminants
Scrapings
1. Dx of some external lesion & excised tissue
  1. Collects more cells than impression smears
2. Parasitology on skin
3. Scapel perpendicylar to surface being scraped
  1. Blunt spatula for delicate tissues (Ex. Conjunctiva)
Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA)
1. Cutaneous masses, Internal masses & organs, lymph nodes, etc.
2. Avoids superficial contamination
3. Collects samples from deep within the lesion/tissue
4. Risk of coming out of small lesions, or missing them altogether
Swabs
1. Tissues which are not readily reached
  1. Vagina, fistulous tracts
2. Cotton swabs moistened w/ 0.9% NaCl (Saline)
Squash Preparation
1. FNAs, viscous fluid samples, samples concentrated by centrifugation, samples w/ flecks of cellular material & Bone marrow aspirates
2. Spreader (top) slide can be at right angles or parallel to the sample slide
Blood/Fluid smear technique
1. Blood smears, fluids of medium to high cellularity, samples concentrated by centrifugation

Resource summary

	Created by melian.yates over 10 years ago