Clinical Pathology Section -- NYS Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory



Education Research Services Departments News

Testing Links:

Testing home page

Hematology

Coagulation

Chemistry

Blood Gases

Urinalysis

Immunology

Cytology

Clin Path Related Pages:

Clin Path home

AHDC home

Emergency Service

Personnel

Available Test

Sample Submission

Price List

Reference Intervals

Research Projects

News and Images

Modules

Questions or Comments

Clinical Pathology Laboratory - Available Test

Cytology Tests

Clinical Pathology Laboratory only offers Cytology Tests to hospital patients at Cornell University

To view our reports for certain tests below and to obtain more information about the individual components of each test, click on the highlighted test name.

Note that all our cytology smears are stained with Wrights stain, with the exception of bone marrow, in which we use a Wrights-Giemsa stain. We have an automated stainer in the laboratory for the purpose of staining slides (see image to the right). The slides take at least 7 minutes to go through the stainer. Some slides that are very thick need to go through the stainer at least twice (this is routine for lymph node aspirates). Therefore, STAT cytologies will always be delayed by the time it takes for the slides to go through the stainer (sometimes twice). We also perform Prussian blue stains for iron (e.g. equine tracheal wash samples) and gram stains for bacteria (when indicated).

Please note that bone marrows are not a STAT test. It takes us over an hour to prepare the bone marrow slides for optimal evaluation.

TEST	COMPONENTS	SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS	COMMENTS
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytologic evaluation only		1 - 2 ml of BAL fluid in EDTA, red top tube or plastic container.	Visible mucus indicates contamination of BAL contents by upper airway constituents.
Bone marrow	Examination of morphology and iron content	CUHA: Aspirate collected in citrate- phosphate-dextrose anticoagulant or smears containing rolled imprints of core biopsies. Submit EDTA blood for a hemogram.DL: Rapidly air-dried, unstained, unfixed aspirate smears. Blood for a hemogram (in EDTA) with air-dried blood smears should be submitted with every bone marrow aspirate.	For CUHA patients: Contact clinical pathologist on duty before collecting marrow.
Buffy coat examination	Examination for circulating mast cells and parasite exam (e.g. babesiosis)	EDTA
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)	Cell counts, total protein, cytologic evaluation.	1 - 2 ml fluid in EDTA. If culture is a possibility, place most of the fluid in EDTA with a small amount in a red-top tube.	Indicate on the request form if "culture is indicated" Indicate site of collection (AO versus LS)
Centesis fluid (pericardial, pleural, peritoneal)	cell counts, TP by refractometer, and cytologic evaluation.	Sample in EDTA (> 1/2 full). If bloody or "culture if", put fluid in a clot tube also.	Based on the cell count, we examine direct, sediment, cytospin or buffy coat smears
Chemistry tests on fluids	Lytes, Creat, BUN, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol	1 - 2 ml fluid in a clot tube
Cytochemistry	Cytochemical evaluation of cells	Bone marrow aspirate in CPD and/or venous blood in EDTA or 5-6 unstained unfixed bone marrow or venous blood smears.	Used for classification of leukemias. Both bone marrow and blood samples are preferred. Provide hemogram and history details!!!
Cytology smear or imprint.	Cytologic evaluation only (counts not provided)	Smears of aspirated material/fluid	Always provide a history!!
pH on fluids (hemorrhagic pericardial effusion is usual sample)		1 - 2 ml fluid in heparin tube (green top) or heparinized syringe.	Submit immediately after collection. Not offered outside the Veterinary College.
Synovial fluid	Cell counts, TP by refractometer, estimated viscosity, cytologic evaluation.	1 - 2 ml fluid in EDTA. If culture is a possibility, put in both EDTA and a red top.	Specify joint sampled.
Tracheal wash	Cytologic smear evaluation. Prussian blue stain for iron is routine for equine samples.	Saline lavage fluid.	An adequate sample contains visible mucus (with trapped cells).