Specimen Collection Guideline

Fluid Cytology & Fluid Analysis

We recommend clinicians to prepare 1-2 slides and submit this to us as well as the fluid in an EDTA tube.

Container Type
EDTA Tube	Required with all fluids - preserves cytology, allows fluid analysis
Sterile Tube	For culture. Can be placed in sterile containers such as urine pots. Do not place in serum tube.
Plain Tube	If requesting for biochemistry of the fluid such as creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride

Below is a table indicating what container type to use for specific tests and what type of tests are required for different types of fluid.

Fluid Type	Fluid from Conventional Cavity (Abdominal, Thoracic, Pericardial, Joint, CNS)	Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) Transtracheal wash (TTW)	Other fluids (eg. seromas, haematomas, various washes such as nasal or prostatic washes)
Container Type		Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) Transtracheal wash (TTW)
EDTA	Cytology. Fluid Analysis always required for a proper diagnosis.	Cytology. No fluid analysis required.	Cytology. No fluid analysis required. If stained cytology is required for a urine sample, the urine can be placed in an EDTA tube.
Sterile Tube	If culture required. This can be ordered if cytology suggests. For CNS, as sample quantity is usually small and protein content is low, sample can be collected in sterile tube.	If culture required. This can be ordered if cytology suggests.	If culture required. This can be ordered if cytology suggests.