HEM.35604 - If a body fluid specimen is examined in more than one area of the laboratory, there is a mechanism to compare the data and interpretations from these differents areas, particularly when a diagnosis of malignancy is rendered.

Does anyone have any helpful hints, ideas, etc., to deal with question??

Dawn Arnett, MT

Kings Daughters Hospital

Madison, IN

We built body fluid result screen so that all body fluid results are on one screen--that way no matter what dept is entering results, all tests can be seen (reviewed). Since the cytology is usually the last result, the pathologist can see all the results and mention in the interpretation portion of the cytology report.

We are a smaller 208 bed hospital, so maybe this would not work for you if you are considerably larger, but our Heme department brings all cytospins from malignant fluids to pathology. It gives us the opportunity to confirm malignancy with the pathologist and we can let him know whether cyto was ordered or not. If cyto was not ordered, he will make a call to the physician. We put a comment on the cell count that the cytospin has been reviewed by the pathologist and we refer the physician to the Cytology report. When the pathologist reviews the cytology, he also has our cytospin slide on the tray and makes note of that in his dictation. Hope that helps!