Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) Samples

Direct Slides

Collection requirements

In keeping with RCPath recommendations, both air-dried and alcohol wet fixed slides should be prepared. Air-dried slides show good cytoplasmic detail and wet-fixed slides show better nuclear detail. Ultimately, presenting both preparations will improve the diagnostic rate.

• Air dried slides must be air-dried quickly and placed in a labelled plastic slide carrier.
• Alcohol fixed slides must be immediately sprayed with alcohol fixative.
• Allow the slides to dry and place in a plastic slide carrier, ideally separately from the air dried slides.

Labelling

Microscope slides should be labelled clearly at the frosted end.

Please, label in PENCIL only, as ink is dissolved by the laboratory staining techniques.

Label each slide with:

• Patient name and surname
• DOB or Hospital number
• FNA indicating side (Left/Right) and anatomical site
• ‘W’ for wet fixed

The slide carrier containing the slides and request form should be promptly transported in a plastic sample bag to the laboratory.

Needle Washings

Collection requirements

Needle washings should be collected in saline (injection type). The needle can be flushed through with saline. The washings should be sent in a universal container with no additive.

 Labelling

Label the universal container with

• Patient name and surname
• Date of Birth
• NHS number or Hospital number (printed label can be used).

Direct slides and needle washing samples should be sent together.

The universal container and request form should be promptly transported in a sample bag to the laboratory.