FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA) CYTOLOGY REPORTING ONLY

Test Name

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA) CYTOLOGY REPORTING ONLY

Aliases

-

Abbreviations

FNA, FNAC

Test Classification

INDIVIDUAL

Department

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Sub Department

CYTOLOGY

TAT Category

ELAPSED (CONTINUOUS) TIME

Estimated TAT

7

TAT Units

DAYS

Test Requirements

TEST ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out test request form fully & legibly. Provide your contact information & complete history with relevant investigation details (lab, imaging). Specify the exact sample type, anatomic site, laterality (where applicable e.g. left vs right). SAMPLE TYPES: Variable e.g. thyroid, breast, lymph node etc. Exact anatomic site must be specified. CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE Fixed smears which are labeled with patient details; glass slides should be intact (not broken). 2 slides should be air dried then methanol fixed; another 2 should be placed directly in ethanol fixative without air drying.

Clinical Utility

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, quick test where a thin needle is used to take a small sample of cells from a lump or growth in the body. It may be performed with or without image guidance. It helps: 1. Check if a lump is cancerous or not. 2. Diagnose thyroid, breast, and lymph node problems. 3. Diagnose infections. 4. Avoid unnecessary surgeries. 5. Guide further testing or treatment. 6. Assess hard-to-reach areas inside the body. It's a useful first step in figuring out what's causing unusual growths or swellings.

Last Review

26th Feb 2026

HISTOLOGY, LARGE SPECIMEN

Test Name

HISTOLOGY, LARGE SPECIMEN

Aliases

HISTOPATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE; SURGICAL PATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE.

Abbreviations

-

Test Classification

INDIVIDUAL

Department

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Sub Department

HISTOLOGY

TAT Category

ELAPSED (CONTINUOUS) TIME

Estimated TAT

14

TAT Units

DAYS

Test Requirements

TEST ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out test request form fully & legibly. Provide your contact information & complete history including suspected diagnosis & relevant investigation details (lab, imaging). Specify the exact sample type, procedure done, anatomic site, laterality where applicable (e.g. left vs right) and the fixative used. SAMPLE TYPE: A variety of specimens are categorized as ""large"" based on hybrid criteria (size/ complexity/ cost of processing/ pathologist time) e.g. whole organ(s), large amputation, or a large biopsy of part of an organ. Examples: prostatectomy, mastectomy, colectomy, esophagectomy, gastrectomy, extremity (limb) amputation or disarticulation, nephrectomy, laryngectomy, hepatectomy, lung resection, splenectomy, hysterectomy (with or without adnexae), lung (segment, lobar or total) resection, pancreas, vulvectomy specimens. Also, soft tissue lesions ≥5 cm in maximum dimension, bone resections for neoplasms, eye enucleation or exenteration, gall bladder & porta hepatis radical resection etc. CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE 10% formalin (10% neutral buffered formalin preferred) in appropriate size, leak proof container. Immerse specimen into formalin within 30 minutes of removal. Ensure specimen is immersed in fixative & not stuck on the side/ lid of the container. For guidance on how to prepare 10% neutral buffered formalin, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr2y4-fAOs4 SAMPLE VOLUME: Volume of formalin to tissue of ≥10:1

Clinical Utility

Histopathologic examination of tissue involves microscopic analysis of biopsy or surgical specimens. It's crucial for: 1. Diagnosing diseases e.g. cancers. 2. Determining disease stage and grade. 3. Assessing surgical margins in cancer removal. 4. Identifying infections/ infectious agents. 5. Evaluating treatment efficacy. 6. Guiding treatment decisions. 7. Providing prognostic information (predicting how a disease might progress). 8. Supporting clinical-pathological correlation. 9. Aiding in research and understanding disease mechanisms. This test offers vital insights for patient care and treatment planning.

Last Review

26th Feb 2026

HISTOLOGY, MEDIUM SPECIMEN

Test Name

HISTOLOGY, MEDIUM SPECIMEN

Aliases

HISTOPATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE; SURGICAL PATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE.

Abbreviations

-

Test Classification

INDIVIDUAL

Department

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Sub Department

HISTOLOGY

TAT Category

ELAPSED (CONTINUOUS) TIME

Estimated TAT

14

TAT Units

DAYS

Test Requirements

CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE 10% formalin (10% neutral buffered formalin preferred) in appropriate size, leak proof container. Immerse specimen into formalin within 30 minutes of removal. Ensure specimen is immersed in fixative & not stuck on the side/ lid of the container. For guidance on how to prepare 10% neutral buffered formalin, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr2y4-fAOs4 SAMPLE TYPE: A variety of specimens are categorized as ""medium"" based on hybrid criteria (size/ complexity/ cost of processing/ pathologist time) e.g. adrenal resection, bile duct resection, breast biopsy (not mastectomy), carotid body, kidney biopsy (not nephrectomy), brain or meningeal biopsy, mediastinal mass, muscle biopsy, ovarian mass, parathyroid gland(s), placenta, salivary gland, skin resection of malignant melanoma, small bowel diverticuli, soft tissue lipoma, testis, thymus, thyroid. Also tongue or tonsil with neoplasm (local/ with nodes) etc. CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE 10% formalin (10% neutral buffered formalin preferred) in appropriate size, leak proof container. Immerse specimen into formalin within 30 minutes of removal. Ensure specimen is immersed in fixative & not stuck on the side/ lid of the container. SAMPLE VOLUME: Volume of formalin to tissue of ≥10:1

Clinical Utility

Histopathologic examination of tissue involves microscopic analysis of biopsy or surgical specimens. It's crucial for: 1. Diagnosing diseases e.g. cancers 2. Determining disease stage and grade 3. Assessing surgical margins in cancer removal 4. Identifying infections/ infectious agents 5. Evaluating treatment efficacy 6. Guiding treatment decisions 7. Providing prognostic information (predicting how a disease might progress) 8. Supporting clinical-pathological correlation 9. Aiding in research and understanding disease mechanisms This test offers vital insights for patient care and treatment planning.

Last Review

26th Feb 2026

HISTOLOGY, SMALL SPECIMEN

Test Name

HISTOLOGY, SMALL SPECIMEN

Aliases

HISTOPATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE; SURGICAL PATHOLOGY CONSULTATION, WET/ UNPROCESSED TISSUE.

Abbreviations

-

Test Classification

INDIVIDUAL

Department

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Sub Department

HISTOLOGY

TAT Category

ELAPSED (CONTINUOUS) TIME

Estimated TAT

14

TAT Units

DAYS

Test Requirements

TEST ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out test request form fully & legibly. Provide your contact information & complete history including suspected diagnosis & relevant investigation details (lab, imaging). Specify the exact sample type, procedure done, anatomic site, laterality where applicable (e.g. left vs right) and the fixative used. SAMPLE TYPE: A variety of specimens are categorized as ""small"" based on hybrid criteria (size/ complexity/ cost of processing/ pathologist time) e.g. appendix, bone biopsy or curettings (bone resections for malignancy are large specimens), branchial cleft or cyst, breast biopsy (mastectomy specimens are large specimens), bronchial biopsy, cervix biopsy, cholesteatoma, colon biopsy, conjunctival biopsy or pterygium, cornea, endometrial curettings, endoscopic biopsy, fallopian tube, gall bladder, ganglion cyst, gastric biopsy, gum or oral mucosa biopsy, hernia sac, hydrocele sac, joint & periarticular tissue without bone, laryngeal biopsy, lung (needle or transbronchial) biopsy, lymph node biopsy, nasopharyngeal biopsy, oesophageal biopsy or diverticulum, omentum biopsy, oropharyngeal biopsy, peritoneal biopsy, pleural or pericardial biopsy/ tissue; products of conception (POCs), rectal biopsy, skin biopsy, small bowel biopsy, testis, testis biopsy, thyroglossal duct, tongue biopsy (tongue with local neoplasm or with nodes is categorized as a medium specimen), tracheal biopsy, tonsil or adenoids, ureter biopsy or resection, urethra biopsy or resection, vaginal biopsy etc. CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE 10% formalin (10% neutral buffered formalin preferred) in appropriate size, leak proof container. Immerse specimen into formalin within 30 minutes of removal. Ensure specimen is immersed in fixative & not stuck on the side/ lid of the container. For guidance on how to prepare 10% neutral buffered formalin, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr2y4-fAOs4 SAMPLE VOLUME: Volume of formalin to tissue of ≥10:1

Clinical Utility

Histopathologic examination of tissue involves microscopic analysis of biopsy or surgical specimens. It's crucial for: 1. Diagnosing diseases e.g. cancers 2. Determining disease stage and grade 3. Assessing surgical margins in cancer removal 4. Identifying infections/ infectious agents 5. Evaluating treatment efficacy 6. Guiding treatment decisions 7. Providing prognostic information (predicting how a disease might progress) 8. Supporting clinical-pathological correlation 9. Aiding in research and understanding disease mechanisms This test offers vital insights for patient care and treatment planning.

Last Review

26th Feb 2026