- Take a new, unused slide and place it perpendicularly on top of the slide that has the contents of the FNA (Figure 4). Let the weight of the slide distribute the sample. ...
- Once the contents of the FNA start to spread, slide the top slide across the bottom slide (Figures 5 and 6). ...
Full Answer
How do you slide a FNA sample?
Once the contents of the FNA start to spread, slide the top slide across the bottom slide (Figures 5 and 6). Take care not to apply excessive pressure to the slides or slide the top slide too rapidly as this could distort some of the cells in the sample (VanSteenhouse, 2006).
How do you use an air syringe on a slide?
Slide Preparation for Adequacy: Following the FNA, gently remove the needle from the syringe while holding the needle above the slide in case of accidental spillage of the specimen. Draw air into the syringe and replace the needle onto the syringe. Squirt only 1 - 2 drops to the center of one of the labeled slides.
How do you remove the needle from a needle slide?
Following the FNA, gently remove the needle from the syringe while holding the needle above the slide in case of accidental spillage of the specimen. Draw air into the syringe and replace the needle onto the syringe.
What equipment is needed to obtain a FNA?
Various pieces of equipment are required for obtaining a FNA (Figure 1): Aseptic scrub — chlorhexidine and alcohol, or pourable sterile saline (optional) Slide marker. Figure 1. Materials needed for fine needle aspirates. Clippers and aseptic scrub are optional.
How do you make a FNA slide?
Slide Preparation for Adequacy: Draw air into the syringe and replace the needle onto the syringe. Squirt only 1 - 2 drops to the center of one of the labeled slides. Place the labeled slide face down on the other slide and let the specimen slowly spread out between the two slides.
How do you make a FNA smear?
0:332:25Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA) Techniques - Dividing & Smearing ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSlide repeat the process of picking up a little bit of material. Put down the original slide pick upMoreSlide repeat the process of picking up a little bit of material. Put down the original slide pick up a new slide calm down until you start to spread the droplet. Put it immediately into fixation.
How do you make a cytology slide?
1:116:28How to Prepare a Slide for a Cytology Evaluation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs you can to smear this you take a new clean slide take one of your samples. Lay the second slideMoreAs you can to smear this you take a new clean slide take one of your samples. Lay the second slide over top at about a 45 or a 90 degree angle. Press down firmly and then just smear it.
How do you fix a FNA slide?
Rapidly fix one slide while it is still wet by spraying with a spray fixative (Cytofix). It is important not to allow this slide to air-dry prior to fixation, as this causes cellular artefacts. Spray a thin film of fixative over the smear, holding the Cytofix bottle 10 cm from the slide.
Do you heat fix fine needle aspiration?
Fine-needle biopsy samples do not need to be heat fixed before staining.
How do you collect samples in FNAC?
FNAC is a short form of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. The technique is an inexpensive, simple and quick way to sample extraneous lumps and masses that could be found in the neck, breasts, etc. The sample is collected by inserting a fine gauge needle into the suspected mass that is later studied under the microscope.
How do you prepare a biopsy slide?
The Five Steps of Histology Slide PreparationTissue fixation. Slide preparation begins with the fixation of your tissue specimen. ... Specimen Transfer to Cassettes. After fixation, specimens are trimmed using a scalpel to enable them to fit into an appropriately labeled tissue cassette. ... Tissue Processing. ... Sectioning. ... Staining.
What is cytological slide?
Cytology slides are often unique and irreplaceable. Unlike surgical pathology cases, where additional paraffin sections can be cut, cytology slides often cannot be duplicated because there are only a few direct smears or the diagnostic material is present on a single slide.
How do you slide a smear?
Culture from solid media: Using a sterile pipette, add one drop of sterile saline or sterile water to the center of the microscope slide. Aseptically pick a small amount of an isolated colony with a loop and gently mix into the drop of sterile saline or water using circular motions. Mix evenly to make a thin smear.
Why do we air dry slides?
Be patient and take the time to let your slide air dry before proceeding with adhering it to the slide. If your slide is wet and you heat fix it, the bacteria will boil and the cellular morphology will be lost.
Which staining is used for FNAC?
Routinely various stains like Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Romanowsky and Pap have been used for staining the FNAC smears. Romanowsky stains are routinely used for staining the blood films and air dried cytological smears [2].
What is FNAC smear?
April 24, 2022. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a diagnostic procedure used to investigate superficial lumps, a mass of fluid accumulated in the deep-seated organs like lungs, liver, abdominal cavity, etc.
How do you stain FNAC slides?
Fix the smear in methanol for 15 minutes. Stain the smear with a working MG solution for 25 minutes. Wash in tap water. Stain the smear with a working Giemsa solution for 20 minutes.
What is the procedure of FNAC?
FNAC or Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology involves using a thin, hollow needle to remove samples of cells from tissue or fluid in an organ or a lump. This is usually done to identify the type of cells inside a lump found in the breast or a gland in the neck, like the thyroid gland.
What is the prep for a thyroid biopsy?
There is very little you need to do to prepare for a thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should stop taking any medicines before the procedure, like blood thinners. You should be able to eat and drink normally before the procedure.
What is FNA fixation?
Study design: Smears prepared from 59 FNABs of surgical specimens were fixed by continuous fixation in 95% ethanol, spray fixation, air drying, ethanol fixation for either 5 minutes or 4 hours followed by spray fixation, or fixation in 95% ethanol for either 30 minutes or 4 hours followed by air drying.
CPT Code (s)
88173; this CPT code may also be reported in conjunction with aspiration of the specimen (10021) and/or immediate on-site evaluation of the specimen (88172). Additional CPT codes, such as 88106, 88108 and/or 88305, may be reported, depending on the preparation methods.
Specimen Requirements
Collection: FNA kits (#0099) may be obtained by calling UF Health Pathology Laboratories’ Client Services Department at 888.375.LABS (5227).
WHAT IS THE THYROID GLAND?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that is normally located in the lower front of the neck. The thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body.
HOW CAN YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR THYROID FNA?
Most medications can be continued. However, anticoagulants, also called “blood thinners”, often need to be stopped temporarily in anticipation of your thyroid biopsy. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding.
HOW IS A THYROID FNA PERFORMED?
The neck will first be cleaned with an antiseptic. A local or topical anesthetic may be applied. For the biopsy, your doctor will use a very thin needle to withdraw cells from the thyroid nodule. The needle used is smaller in diameter than those used in most blood draws.
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
The procedure is usually performed using a local anesthetic and no medications are used that affect consciousness or thinking. After the procedure, you may be asked to sit up slowly to prevent you from getting lightheaded. Most patients typically leave feeling well. There are very few, if any, restrictions on what you can do after a thyroid biopsy.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BIOPSY MATERIAL AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
The biopsy samples may be used to make slides immediately and/or collected in a solution to wash excess blood. Specially trained doctors, cytopathologists, then make slides from the material and examine them under a microscope to make a diagnosis.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE RESULTS TO RETURN?
Generally, it can take anywhere from a few days to two (2) weeks for the result to return.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RESULTS?
Results of the thyroid biopsy are given as one of six possible diagnoses, according to the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Please note that the percentages below may be somewhat different at different institutions and centers.
Equipment needed for FNA
Various pieces of equipment are required for obtaining a FNA (Figure 1):
Prior to performing FNA for either of two methods
Have an assistant restrain the patient so the mass or lymph node is optimally positioned to be aspirated.
Method 1 of obtaining an FNA
Wearing non-sterile examination gloves, isolate the mass/lymph node with one hand to prevent movement during the aspiration. This may require pinching the skin around the mass or lymph node. Insert a 22–25 gauge needle through the skin aiming to have the bevel of the needle in the center of the mass/lymph node (Figure 2).
Squash preparation of cellular material on microscope slides
According to VanSteenhouse (2006), traditional preparations, such as those done for blood smears, can also be done to prepare the FNA sample on the microscope slide, but the squash preparation method may result in fewer broken cells:
Modified squash preparation of cellular material on microscope slides
The modified squash preparation is similar to the squash technique, only the sample is not smeared, which results in fewer broken cells (Caruso et al, 2002). It is best to do this technique with cells that are more prone to being ruptured, such as with lymphocytes:
Method 2 of obtaining an FNA
Wearing non-sterile examination gloves, attach a 6–12 cc syringe to a 22–25 gauge needle. As with Method 1, the size of the needle will depend on the size, depth, and location of the mass/lymph node.
Conclusion
To obtain a diagnostic FNA, it is important to follow either of the described methods and properly prepare the sample using the squash or modified squash technique. Veterinary nurses can play an integral part when FNAs are performed — either performing the procedure or assisting the veterinarian.
