Comparison of Rehydrated Air-dried and Wet Fixed Fine Needle Aspirate Smears at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) is a simple, quick, and inexpensive technique frequently used to diagnose benign, malignant, and infectious lesions from different body sites. FNA smears prior to staining are routinely fixed in 95% alcohol before drying occurs. Any setback to immediate fixation will lead to airdrying artefacts which lead to indeterminate diagnosis and repeat FNA. Rehydration of air-dried smears mitigates these limitations associated with wet fixation...