Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

EXPECTORATED:

Container/Tube: Vial which is one third to one half full of Saccomanno cytology preservative-

                                      24-hour collection is not acceptable.

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Instruct patient to gargle with water upon arising in the morning. Patient should expectorate water and discard it.
2. Patient should then cough as deeply as possible and expectorate all sputum produced into a vial.
3. Avoid collecting saliva or “spit.”
4. Label vial (not lid) with patient’s legal name, date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.
5. Place vial in separate plastic biohazard transport bag.

Forms: “Cytology Requisition”           

INDUCED:

Container/Tube: Vial which is one third to one half full of Saccomanno cytology preservative-24-hour collection is not acceptable.
Specimen Volume: 10 mL of sputum

Collection Instructions:

1. Fill ultrasonic nebulizer with 10 mL of 3% sterile sodium chloride solution.
2. Seat patient in front of nebulizer.
3. Turn on nebulizer and note strong flow of nebulizer saline from end of flex tubing.
4. Instruct patient to put end of flex tubing inside lips and inhale aerosol slowly and deeply.
5. Instruct patient to cough deeply and, without touching inside of vial or lid, expectorate into collection vials.
6. If patient cannot expectorate sputum, 5 to 10 minutes of chest percussion may be administered to stimulate cough and sputum production.
7. Label vial (not lid) with patient’s legal name, date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.
8. Place vial in separate plastic biohazard transport bag.

Forms: “Cytology Requisition”