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iv. Details like collection date of specimen, type of examination requested, name of
physician or other authorized person or clinic submitting the specimen should
be written in the form.
HTAA, KUANTAN vi. PAP Smears : Please use PS 1/98 (Pindaan 2007).
v. FNAC & Body Fluids Cytology forms : Please use ANA/JP/HTAA-01/VER.3
(Pindaan 9/9/2015).

4.0 SPECIMENS COLLECTION

4.1 PAP Smears :

i. Specimen to be collected prior to bimanual examination.
ii. No sexual intercourse prior to specimen collection.
iii. Patient should be advised to refrain from douching or using vaginal suppositories
for a period of 24 hours before a specimen is taken.
iv. Avoid collecting specimen during menstrual bleeding.
v. Label a clean glass slide with patient’s name and IC number with pencil on the
frosted end.
vi. DO NOT use lubricant on the speculum.
vii. Place cervical spatula at the external os and rotate through 360 degrees, lightly
o
scraping the squamo – columnar junction.
viii. Smear the material onto the labeled glass slide about as thick as a blood film.
ix. Fix the slide immediately, either by immersing it in a coplin jar containing
95% alcohol for at least 30 minutes or use a spray fixative to prevent cellular
distortion.
x. Air-dry the fixed slide.
xi. Place the slide in a slide mailer and despatch to the cytology laboratory.

Note :
1. If more than one slide is to be placed in the same container, ensure that they
are not placed face to face. After fixing, place the slides in a slide box and send
them to the Cytology Laboratory for processing.
2. Immediate and proper fixation of cellular material is essential for accurate
cytologic interpretation.

Remember :
Use 95% alcohol, available as denatured alcohol / commercial form of industrial
ethanol as a wet fixative.

*TAT for Pap smear is 14 working days. TAT for urgent cases is 7 working days.

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