Bronchio Alveolar Lavage for Cytology
| Test Name |
Bronchio Alveolar Lavage |
| Alternate Name(s) |
BAL |
| Laboratory Module |
Cytology |
| Ordering Mnemonic |
Meditech Order Entry- Category: Cyto Mneumonic: BAL - NO CELL COUNT IS REQUIRED. or Mneumonic BALCC - CELL COUNT WILL BE DONE All additional mandatory fields must be satisfied in order to complete the requisition |
| Specimen Type |
Bronchio Alveolar Lavage |
| Collection Container |
BALCC -( BAL with cell count requested) Collect in a sterile container and send fresh specimen immediately to the laboratory BAL- ( BAL for routine cytology) Collect in a container with cytolyt fixative solution
|
| Container Information |
BALCC -( BAL with cell count requested) Collect in a sterile container and send fresh specimen immediately to the laboratory BAL- ( BAL for routine cytology) Collect in a container with cytolyt fixative solution |
| Collection Information |
Bronchio Alveolar Lavage specimens are collected by installing aliquots of balanced saline solution through a bronchoscope and re-aspirating the material into a sterile container. The instilled volume should be at least 100 ml. If a cell count is requested, submit the fresh pooled saline lavage specimen in a sterile container and send immediately to the lab. Do NOT add fixative. If only routine cytology is requested, submit the specimen in cytolyt cytology fixative. Different sites may be sampled. Each specimen from a different area requires a separate requisition. For example if there was a right BAL and a left BAL, each sample would require a separate requisition.
Fresh specimens (BAL's with cell count requests) should be received in the lab before 2:00 pm and should not be collected Friday afternoons and weekends
I.1.All labelled specimens must be accompanied by a completed manual or Meditech generated cyto-pathology non-gynecological requisition. All mandatory fields must be satisfied in order to complete the request. In the case of computer downtime use the standard cytopathology non-gynecological requisition. (ii) hospital unique number (iii) date of birth (iv) Ontario Health Insurance Number with version code. (b) Submitting area identifiers: Hospital site and the submitting department (Emergency, Ambulatory Care etc.). (c) Submitting physician's name. (d) Date of specimen collection (e) Pre- and post-operative presumptive diagnosis. (f) A brief clinical history, relevant pathological and radiological findings. (g) Specimen information (i) specimen type/source (ii) specimen site I.2. If received, the specimen container must be labeled. Addressograph labels are preferred, otherwise the following information must be provided, clearly written in ink: (a) Patient identifiers - (i) patient's full name (ii) hospital unique number (iii) and at least one other unique additional identifier (ie. date of birth, OHIN). (b) Date of specimen collection. (c) Specimen type and site, as it is written on the Cytology Requisition form. This information must be recorded on the side of the specimen container and not the lid. If a specimen is known or suspected to contain unique or extreme biohazard (e.g. CJD) the container shall be so marked. I.3. Place specimen container in a biohazard bag (if applicable). The requisition should be placed in the outer pouch of the biohazard bag. Send all additional meditech generated labels in the biohazard bag. |
| Test Schedule |
Monday to Friday |
| Routine Turnaround Time | 1 week |
| Stat Turnaround Time | 3 days |
| Reference Interval | |
| Critical Values | |
| Lab Process Notes |
Specimens are to be stored refrigerated in the laboratory triage area. (Fresh if there is a cell count request) Notify Pathology staff immediately upon arrival of a BAL specimen with a Cell count request. |
| Storage and Transport |
Specimens should be stored in the refrigerator |
| Test Referred To |
Referred off site. BAL specimens with cell count requests are sent to Grand River. Bal specimens for routine cytology will be sent to Dynacare. |
Contact Us
The Brantford General
200 Terrace Hill Street
Brantford, ON
N3R 1G9
519-751-5544
The Willett, Paris
238 Grand River St. North
Paris, ON
N3L 2N7
519-442-2251
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