Unacceptable specimens include the following:

1. Unlabeled or incorrectly labeled specimens: If the specimen is irretrievable, DCDS may call the office and fax a form for the provider to fill in, sign, and fax back. All containers and slides must be labeled with the patient’s full name, second identifier (DOB or MR#), and source. Unlabeled voided urine specimens and all other retrievable specimens will be rejected and must be recollected. Any rejected specimens will have a report issued indicating this.
2. Specimens received in improper fixative may or may not be processed. If we are unable to process the specimen, the physician’s office will be notified. If we can process the specimen, a notation will be made in the quality assurance report. If the specimen is inadequate for cytologic examination, the final report will be unsatisfactory, and the reason will be stated.
3. Containers that have leaked so that insufficient fluid is left to perform the test, or slides that have broken into many pieces that cannot be glued together, will be rejected. The office will be called to collect a new specimen, and a report will be issued indicating that the specimen was not processed.
4. Specimens exposed to extreme temperatures (i.e., freezing or boiling) may be unacceptable, and the office will be notified to recollect.
5. Specimens in which the source on the container does not agree with the source on the requisition: DCDS may call the office and fax a form for the responsible person to fill in, sign, and fax back to us.
6. Pertinent clinical information, including the reason the test is being ordered, is required to process any non-gyn cytology specimen. The ordering provider/location will be contacted to provide the missing clinical information.
7. Specimens from unauthorized sources (without appropriate credentials according to state and local requirements) will not be accepted, and specimens that lack information required for testing, such as source and provider, will be resolved by fax-back prior to processing.