| Collection & Request Instructions | Collection procedure: After collection of the biopsy and expulsion onto the glass slide the biopsy needle and syringe is immediately rinsed by aspirating 1 mL of saline and then expelling the washings into a 10mL plastic tube or sterile container. Expelled fluid should be re-aspirated twice to ensure thorough rinsing of the needle. | Collection procedure: for FNA or core biopsies. Test not appropriate for excisional biopsy.
Prior to biopsy, collect appropriate tube from Laboratory. Lab instruction: prepare exactly 1 mL of normal saline in a 10 mL plain tube.
Perform biopsy as per normal procedure.
Once biopsy sampling has been completed, "wash" used needle in the measured 1 mL of normal saline that is in the plain tube.
"Wash" procedure will vary depending on type of biopsy/needle system used. Ideally the saline will be used to wash both inside and outside surfaces of the part of the biopsy system that was in the target lesion. If this was FNA, it is suggested that the saline be aspirated into the needles and expelled into the 10 mL tube at least twice. Other systems, such as biopsy guns, will depend on the shape/size and ability to draw fluid into the relevant part.
Cellular debris is acceptable, but please minimise the amount, as the scientists will only be able to analyse the supernatant
Sample should be accompanied with a handwritten request for "thyroglobulin washings" (eOrder not yet available). It will be coded as miscellaneous fluid in CSR, and sent to biochemistry for assay. |
