AHL LabNote 70-Cytology Submission Guidelines and Fee Structure

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality cytology services and maintaining efficient turnaround times, there will be an update to our cytology submission guidelines and fee structure, effective May 1, 2026.

To ensure billing transparency and streamline our laboratory processing, we have standardized the maximum number of slides included per submission based on the sample type.

Please review the updated submission criteria below:

1. Cytology Smears

Fees and slide limits are now tiered based on the number of sites sampled.

· 1-2 sites: Maximum 5 slides (Testcode: cytsm1)

· 3-4 sites: Maximum 10 slides (Testcode: cytsm2)

· 5-7 sites: Maximum 15 slides (Testcode: cytsm3)

· 8-9 sites: Maximum 18 slides (Testcode: cytsm4)

· 10 sites: Maximum 20 slides (Testcode: cytsm5)

2. Lymph Node & Bone Marrow

· Lymph node: Maximum 10 slides (Testcode: cytln)

· Bone marrow: Maximum 10 slides (Testcode: bm)

3. Fluid Submissions (Charge Per Tube)

For general fluid analyses, billing is based on a charge per tube rather than per slide. This applies to Abdominal, Thoracic, Synovial, Transtracheal / BAL, and Urine samples (Testcode: cyto).

If you submit multiple tubes, for example with a BAL submission, and would like these samples pooled, please indicate this on the submission form.

Special Exception for CSF - (Testcode: cytcsf):

· Handling Protocol: Deliver to the laboratory immediately. If the sample cannot be sent immediately, split the sample evenly into two plain tubes: one neat sample and one with an equal volume of added autologous serum to preserve cell morphology. Please label both tubes appropriately.

· Billing Exception: When following this specific preservation protocol, the two submitted CSF tubes will incur only one single charge.

IMPORTANT: Surcharge for Additional Slides

Please be advised that the submission of slides exceeding the maximum limit for any specific category listed in sections 1 and 2 will result in an additional charge. We highly encourage clinicians to submit only the most representative slides for diagnostic evaluation to avoid unnecessary fees.

We appreciate your continued trust in our diagnostic services. By following these updated guidelines, you help us ensure that our pathologists can focus on delivering accurate and timely results for your patients.

Any questions?? Contact us at:

Email – ahlinfo@uoguelph.ca Phone – 519-824-4120 ext 54530 (AHL Guelph)