Sanford Health Laboratory Test Catalog

Cytology

Cytology services

Complete cytology services, including examination of fine needle aspirations, body fluids, vaginal and cervical pap tests, are available Monday through Friday. It is recommended that a pathologist be present for fine needle aspirations to evaluate the adequacy of the specimen and render a diagnosis, if possible, on quick stain smears. Cytology specimens should be handled as follows:

• Direct smears
  All direct smears must be fixed with a spray fixative.
• GYN-cytology
  Thin prep pap tests: Thin prep vials must be labeled with the patient?s name and date of birth or clinic history number (CHN). The vial cap must be tightened so that the tongue line on the cap passes the line on the vial to prevent leakage.
  A GYN-cytology requisition must accompany the specimen complete with all the appropriate patient demographic information and clinical history. Send the specimen vial in a biohazard bag with the paperwork in the outer fold of the bag.
• NON-GYN cytology
  Body fluids: In-house specimens are immediately delivered to pathology. Specimens received after hours or on weekends are refrigerated until the next working day. Out-of-town specimens are fixed with equal volume of 50 percent alcohol and sent to the pathology department.
  Sputum: Sputum specimens should be expectorated into special containers containing 50 percent ethyl alcohol.
  A non-gynecologic cytology requisition and a pathology V charge ticket should be completed legibly with all the appropriate patient demographic information, including the specimen source and clinical diagnosis. Forms should accompany all non-GYN and fine-needle aspiration specimens.

Note: Additional information regarding procedures for specimen collection is available from the laboratory cytology department. Please call (701) 323-5442 or (800) 932-8758 if you have any questions.

Anatomic pathology/histology services

Complete anatomic pathology services are available, including routine surgical pathology, frozen sections, special stains, immunohistochemistry and autopsy pathology.

Surgical pathology

Surgical specimens are received in 10 percent neutral buffered formalin by 4 p.m. for overnight processing and next day reporting. The tissue is sectioned and reported by the pathologist on a daily weekday basis. Frozen sections are available in the clinic and hospital from 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Frozen sections not within working hours should be scheduled with the pathologist on call, if possible.

Emergency frozen sections or operating room consults are available on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis and should be arranged with the pathologist on call.

Special procedures
Please schedule at least 24 hours in advance:

• Renal biopsies: The pathologist will be available to evaluate adequacy of specimen. Special fixatives and handling are required.
• Muscle/nerve biopsies: Special fixatives and handling are required.
• Cilia biopsies: Special fixatives and handling are required.

Other unusual specimens or requests for surgical pathology should be coordinated with the histology department or a pathologist.

Specimen reports for routine cases are sent by computer within two working days, unless additional studies are needed. Telephone reports by a pathologist for both in-house and out-of-town specimens are made on request.

Autopsy pathology services

Autopsies are performed from 8 a.m.—5 p.m., Monday through Friday in the morgue at Sanford Health. Weekends are covered by the pathologist on call. It is desirable that the attending physician notifies the pathologist to discuss the case. Embalming before autopsy is allowed only at the discretion of the pathologist. Out-of-town autopsies are best performed at Sanford Health and arrangements should be made to transport the body. Arrangements can be made in some situations for a pathologist to perform the autopsy in an out-of-town facility.

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