Results are generally available within 2 business days.

Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5pm. 

Collection: Soak nipple with warm saline in cotton or gauze for 10-15 minutes, then gently stroke subareolar area and nipple with thumb and forefinger. When liquid appears, allow drop to accumulate on apex of the nipple. Place drop on slide. With separate slide make unilayer smear. Place immediately in 95% ethyl alcohol (cytology fixative). Make four to six smears as the amount of specimen allows. Leave one slide out of fixative to air dry. If smears are prepared from both breasts, label each slide as left or right. Label all slides with patients name and medical record number.

Patient Preparation: Nipple should be cleaned vigorously to remove loose skin cells.

Additional Information: For patients with a palpable mass, needle aspiration is a more productive procedure. Mammography should also be performed.

Special Instructions: Information regarding the sample site and pertinent clinical data (I.e., unilateral or bilateral discharge, one duct or multiple involved, cyclic or noncyclic discharge, admitting diagnosis, age radiographic findings, and history of radiation or chemotherapy) is essential to interpretation and should be received with the specimen.

Request Form: Non-Gynecologic Cytology Requisition. (Opens in a new window)

Breast Discharge Cytology