- Verbal consent
- Prepare slides and “cyto-fix” spray
- 23G needle on a 10ml syringe
- Clean the area with an alcohol swab
- Trap the lesion between index and middle finger non-dominant hand
- Warn patient and insert needle into mass
- Several passes (~5-10) whilst drawing back on syringe, should feel the needle enter/exit the lesion
- Release suction and then withdraw needle from skin
- Immediate pressure; ask patient to apply for 5 minutes
- Switch syringe to one with plunger drawn back and apply material onto pre-prepared slide
- Carefully place second slide onto first and use the parallel pull-apart technique to create two ovoid smears; apply cyto-fix to both