Cytology Submissions Guidelines

When to request cytology:

Cytology is primarily used to assess for suspected malignancy. Sampling for cytology is minimally invasive, as cells may be examined from small quantities of material or body fluids. With adequate clinical and radiographic history, cytology is both sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of a variety of neoplasms.

Contact Information:

  • QEII Cytology Lab: 902-473-8420
  • Alternate Line 1: 473-7592
  • Alternate Line 2: 473-7591

Sample Submission:

Ensure that the sample is labelled and sealed and submitted with a matching requisition. Specimens collected on site should be sent to VG or HI site Specimen Receiving.

Specimens collected off-site should be sent to:

QEII HSC Specimen Receiving, MacKenzie Building, Room 128, 5788 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1V8

Requisitions:

Within Central Zone (Halifax, Eastern Shore, West Hants), please visit: http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/pathology-laboratory-medicine/how-obtain-laboratory-requisitions

Western, Northern and Eastern Zone labs & IWK Health users should contact their local/regional laboratory site regarding requisitions.

Containers:

Community-based physicians (Central Zone: Halifax, Eastern Shore and West Hants) requesting laboratory tests from the QEII Health Sciences Centre may order the necessary collection containers from Customer Service (902-466-8070, fax 902-466-8074).

Alternatively, contact your local / regional laboratory site.

For FNA specimens, 50mL containers with fixative added are available for clinics. Please contact the QEII Cytology Laboratory.

Fixative:

CytoLyt is the appropriate fixative for all non-gynecologic cytology specimens at QEII HSC. For information on acquiring CytoLyt, please call the QEII Cytology Laboratory. CytoLyt is not provided to family physician’s offices.

If CytoLyt is not available at the time of collection, fresh (unfixed) specimens should be sent to the lab as soon as possible.

Off-Hours Collections:

Normal hours for the Cytology laboratory are 8AM-4PM, Mon-Fri. Off-hours collections (evenings, weekends and holidays) may show decreased specimen quality due to delays in processing. Specimens collected during off-hours should be refrigerated and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Alternative tests on samples:

Never add CytoLyt to specimens that are not intended for cytology. If lymphoma is suspected, a sample should be submitted to the Flow Cytometry laboratory in RPMI solution. Samples intended for cell counts should be sent to Hematology.

For Microbiology submission guidelines, please visit: https://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/system/files/sites/116/documents/provincial-microbiology-users-manual.pdf