Table 1.
Protocols to process bladder washing, peritoneal and pleural fluid cytology specimens in the era of COVID-19.
| PROTOCOL 1 – protocol in use before the COVID-19 pandemic (standard protocol) | PROTOCOL 2–70% ethanol-based sterilization (newly developed) | PROTOCOL 3 – heat-based sterilization (newly developed) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Transfer the patient sample into a 50 mL Falcon™ tube. 2. Add 30 mL of Cytolyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA). 3. Centrifuge for 5 min at 2800 rpm. Discard the supernatant. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 in case it is needed. 7. Dilute the obtained pellet in the PreservCyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA) obtained from the non-gynecological ThinPrep® kit (HOLOGIC®, USA). 8. Fix the sample during 15 min and process using the ThinPrep® 5000 machine (HOLOGIC®, USA). 9. Fix the imprint in 96% alcohol during 15 min. 10. Stain the slide using H&E staining and then mount the slide. |
1. Add 70% ethanol to the sample tube, in a 3:1 ratio. 2. Wrap the sample tube in parafilm and store it in the fridge at 4 °C until the next day. 3. Transfer the sample into a 50 mL Falcon™ tube, wrap it in parafilm and centrifuge it for 5 min at 2800 rpm. Discard the supernatant. 4. Add 30 mL of Cytolyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA) and again wrap the tube in parafilm. 5. Centrifuge for 5 min at 2800 rpm. Discard the supernatant. 6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 in case it is needed. 7. Dilute the obtained pellet in the PreservCyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA). Obtained from the non-gynecological ThinPrep® kit (HOLOGIC®, USA). 8. Fix the sample during 15 min and process using the ThinPrep® 5000 machine (HOLOGIC®, USA). 9. Fix the imprint in 96% alcohol during 15 min. 10. Stain the slide using H&E staining and then mount the slide. |
1. Transfer the sample to a 50 mL Falcon™ tube and add 30 mL of Cytolyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA). 2. Wrap the tube in parafilm and centrifuge it for 5 min at 2800 rpm. Discard the supernatant. 3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 in case it is needed. 4. Dilute the obtained pellet in the PreservCyt® solution (HOLOGIC®, USA) obtained from the non-gynecological ThinPrep® kit (HOLOGIC®, USA). 5. Fix the sample during 30 min. 6. Place the sample in the laboratory oven at 67 °C during 1 h and 45 min. 7. Process using the ThinPrep® 5000 machine (HOLOGIC®, USA). 8. Fix the imprint in 96% alcohol during 15 min. 9. Stain the slide using H&E staining and then mount the slide. |
Note 1: For the three protocols, whenever the sample is manipulated (open and closing of the tubes and change of its place) the outside of the sample tube and technician hands are disinfected by applying a 70% ethanol solution. Note 2: The aspirative cytology slides sent in 96% alcohol undergo a 70% ethanol treatment before manipulation.