**After material on glass, fix immediately with spray fixative or 95% alcohol. Do not allow air-drying of specimen to occur. After fixation allow slides to air dry before placing in cardboard slide containers. Patient’s name should be written in pencil on frosted end of slide.

Collection:

• Endocervical smear is prepared by inserting endocervical brush into endocervical canal and rotating the brush. Spread material onto labeled glass slide and fix immediately with spray fixative.

• Ectocervical scrape: With spatula, thoroughly scrape the entire ectocervix with emphasis on the squamocolumnar junction. Spread material evenly onto labeled glass slide and fix immediately.

• Vaginal smear: If vaginal smear is desired, obtain specimen by lightly scraping the posterior fornix with spatula. Spread material evenly onto labeled glass slide and fix immediately. (Make cell spread from the vaginal pool first: fix slide immediately, then make cell spread from the cervix and fix the slide immediately before collecting the endocervical specimens.)