Specimen Requirements

1. Gynecological specimens collected in PreservCyt® Solution
   Notes:
   The patient should be tested 2 weeks after the last menstrual period and not while in menses.
   The patient should not use vaginal medication, vaginal contraceptives or douches within 48 hours of specimen collection.
   1. Preparing the Patient for Specimen Collection
      Note: Do not use lubricants or jellies to lubricate the speculum.
      1. Remove excess mucus or other discharge present before collecting the specimen using a ring forceps holding a folded gauze pad. Excess cervical mucus does not contain useful diagnostic cellular material.
      2. Remove inflammatory exudate from the cervical canal before collecting the specimen. Remove the exudate (if present) by placing a dry 2X2 inch piece of gauze over the cervix and peeling it away after it absorbs the exudate or by using a dry proctoswab or scopette. Excess inflammatory exudate does not contain useful diagnostic cellular material.
      3. Do not clean the cervix by washing with saline.  Washing may result in an acellular specimen.
   2. Specimen Collection
      1. Collecting Specimens using the Broom-like Device
         1. Obtain an adequate sampling form the cervix using a broom-like device.  Insert the central bristles of the broom into the endocervical canal deep enough to allow the shorter bristles to filly contact the ectocervix. Push gently, and rotate the broom in a clockwise direction five  times.
         2. Rinse the broom as quickly as possible in the PreservCyt® Solution vial by pushing the broom into the bottom of the vial 10 times forcing the bristles apart. As a final step, swirl the broom vigorously to further release material. Discard the collection device into a biohazard waste container.
         3. Tighten the cap so the torque line on the cap passes the torque line on the vial.
         4. Label the specimen with the patient’s name, ID number and/or date of birth, date and time of collection and collector’s initials.
      2. Collecting Specimens using the Endocervical Brush/Spatula Device
         1. Obtain adequate sampling from the ectocervix using a plastic spatula.
         2. Rinse the spatula as quickly as possible into the PreservCyt® Solution vial by swirling the spatula vigorously in the vial 10 times. Discard the spatula in a biohazard waste container.
         3. Obtain an adequate sampling from the endocervix using an endocervical brush device. Insert the brush into  the cervix until only the bottom most fibers are exposed. Slowly rotate ¼ or ½ turn in one direction.  DO NOT OVER-ROTATE.
         4. Rinse the brush as quickly as possible in the PreservCyt® Solution by rotating the device in the solution 10 times while pushing against the vial wall. Swirl vigorously to further release material.  Discard the brush in a biohazard waste container.
         5. Tighten the cap so the torque line on the cap passes the torque line on the vial.

Label the specimen with the patient’s name, ID number and/or date of birth, date and time of collection and collector’s initials.