[Histonet] Processing cytology and cell block protocols

[Terri Braud]

We are a similar sized hospital with an 8,000/yr Surgical load of mixed large and small cases.  We process 1000 Non-gyn Cytology cases, assist with FNA collection in Interventional Radiology.  We also assist with about 130 bone marrow collections, including smears and processing.  There is myself, and 3 other Histotechs and we do it all! 
 
Our cell block protocol for unfixed fluids is
Centrifuge in 50ml conical tubes at 1200rpm for 10 minutes 
Pour off supernate, resuspend the pellet in buffer wash (for large volumes with low cell yields, we keep spinning the fluid until we get a cell pellet in the bottom of the tube, or we have exhausted the fluid)
Repeat centrifuge step 
Pour off supernate and fix in 10%NBF/95% Alcohol 50/50 for at least 10 minutes
Gently dislodge the fixed pellet and pour into the corner of a nylon bag into a cassette for routine processing
If the fixed pellet is smaller than 0.5cm in greatest dimension, then we pour off the fixative and add heated to liquid agar
Let cool, then gently dislodge the fixed agar pellet and place gently into the corner of a nylon bag into a cassette for routine processing

Hope this helps

Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
Laboratory
Holy Redeemer Hospital
1648 Huntingdon Pike
Meadowbrook, PA 19046
ph: 215-938-3689
fax: 215-938-3874


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-request at lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-request at lists.utsouthwestern.edu] 
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 1:00 PM

Today's Topics:
   2. Re: Fluids for Cytology 
   6. Cell block protocols 

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