CHL provides comprehensive Cytopathology services for inpatients and outpatients at the Christchurch hospital main campus.
Our medical, scientific and prep staff are all highly experienced in preparing and processing cytology samples for expert reporting. CHL was an early adopter of SurePath TM Liquid-based Cytology (LBC)
CHL’s Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) Service operates 08:30 – 17:00 Monday – Friday. FNAs are booked via the Anatomical Pathology Office (ext 80580):
- Anatomical pathologists attend almost all image-guided FNAs taken at the Christchurch hospital campus – typically an anatomical pathology registrar also attends, as part of our apprenticeship-model of training.
- Image-guided FNAs at Christchurch hospital include CT-guided and Ultrasound-guided FNAs taken in Radiology at Waipapa, where we have an adjacent laboratory room for handling FNA samples appropriately.
- By mutual agreement, following a pilot over a decade ago, Ultrasound guided FNA of thyroids at Christchurch Hospital are all rinsed into CytoRich Red TM for processing to SurePath TM slides and cell blocks. This joint initiative between CHL AP and Christchurch Hospital Radiology Departments has been highly successful in minimising the rates of unsatisfactory Thyroid FNA samples and provides a highly efficient service for the work-up of thyroid nodules/abnormalities at the hospital.
- FNAs taken at EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy) are routinely attended by an anatomical pathologist and registrar (two sets of hands makes processing these samples much easier!).
- FNAs at Outpatient clinics on the Christchurch Hospital campus are usually done by anatomical pathologists and registrars at the particular Outpatient clinic, which is very convenient for patients. Another benefit of the pathology team going to the various Outpatient clinics is that it allows direct communication between the clinical teams and attending pathology team.
- FNAs by CHL pathologists can also be done in the wards or in the operating theatres on the Christchurch Hospital Campus.
- FNA ‘Pathologist of the Day’ is available 08:30 – 17:00 Monday – Friday to answer any questions (ext 80580)
Gynaecological Cytology
- CHL has had longstanding involvement in providing SurePath TM Liquid-based Cytology (LBC) for cervical smears and vault smears for the National Cervical Screening Programme.
- CHL was the first laboratory in New Zealand to use SurePath TM LBC for cervical smears.
- CHL pathologists also collaborated on a study with academic clinicians at Christchurch Women’s Hospital regarding the benefits of LBC for cervical smears. The study, published in 2008, showed significantly reduced unsatisfactory rates for smears using LBC
- CHL pathologist have ongoing clinical research collaborations related to cervical screening and hrHPV testing as well as cervical cancer and other aspects of gynaecological oncology
- CHL pathologists attend the two-weekly Colposcopy MDMs and weekly Gynaecological oncology MDMs at CWH
- CHL lead cytoscientist and cytopathologists are happy to field questions from smear takers
- CHL is well placed to continue to provide hrHPV testing and LBC services to the NCSP when Primary HPV screening commences in NZ. Several of our pathologists have been involved in providing advice to the NCSP regarding Primary HPV screening
- CHL pathologists and scientists have had longstanding involvement in the highly effective National Cervical Pathology Training Service, which provides training and continuing professional development (CPDP) sessions related to cervical cancer screening for pathologists, registrars, cytoscientists, virologists and molecular scientists.
Non-gynaecological Cytology services
- CHL provides a full range of Non-gynaecological cytology services for CDHB (and WCDHB) patients
- CHL makes extensive use of SurePath TM Liquid-based Cytology (LBC) for non-gynaecological cytology, which maximises the detection of abnormal cell populations, and allows ancillary testing.
- Non-gynaecological cytology samples that we routinely receive include:
- Respiratory cytology: Bronchial washings and Brushings, Sputum cytology, WANG FNA samples, pleural fluids
- CHL is able to provide Molecular Testing for lung cancers on any respiratory sample with sufficient tumour cells. This can prevent a patient needing to have a further procedure to obtain cells for molecular testing
- Body cavity fluid cytology: Pleural and Pericardial fluids, Ascites cytology, Peritoneal/pelvic washings
- Urological cytology: Urine cytology, ureteric washings
- Aspirate cytology: fluid collections/cystic lesions; joint aspirates
- The ‘Pathologist of the Day’ for non-gynaecological cytology is available 08:30 – 17:00 Monday – Friday to answer any questions (ext 80580)
Meet the Cytopathology team:
