{"id":4245,"date":"2026-06-12T21:54:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T18:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=4245"},"modified":"2026-07-08T09:16:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T06:16:48","slug":"cytological-examination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/cytological-examination\/","title":{"rendered":"Cytological examination: what it is, types and preparation rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">Laboratory analysis of cells allows you to detect pathological changes in the body even before the disease begins to manifest itself with the first symptoms. Cytology is a diagnostic method in which the structure of individual cells or their small clusters is studied under a microscope.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\">Unlike histological analysis (biopsy), cytology does not require cutting a piece of tissue. The study is carried out on the basis of <a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/what-is-the-infection-test-and-why-is-it-important\/\">ordinary smears<\/a>, scrapings or fluids. The procedure for collecting the material itself is quick and painless for the person.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"6\">Why is a cytological analysis prescribed?<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7\">The main goal of this study is to detect inflammatory processes, precancerous conditions, or the appearance of malignant cells in a timely manner.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">The doctor may refer for cytology in the following cases:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"9\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\">Routine preventive examination (for example, an annual Pap test at a gynecologist).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\">The appearance of suspicious tumors, nodules, or dense areas on organs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\">Monitoring tissue condition during or after treatment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"11\">What is a cytological examination?<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">Depending on which organ and how the cells are taken, the studies are divided into several types:<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"13\">1. Conventional smears and washes (Exfoliative cytology)<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">The material is cells that independently exfoliate from the surface of the mucous membranes.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"15\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Gynecological smear for oncocytology<\/b> (screening for cervical diseases).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\">Analysis of mammary secretions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,2,0\">Sputum collection when coughing or <a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/correct-collection-of-seeds-how-to-prepare-for-analysis-and-not-create-a-false-result\/\">urine sediment analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,3,0\">Washings that the doctor takes during an examination of internal organs (for example, during gastroscopy).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"16\">2. Needle puncture (Aspiration cytology)<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">Cells are extracted using a thin syringe directly from deep within the tissues. The method is indispensable when you need to check:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"18\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"18,0,0\">Nodules in the thyroid gland.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"18,1,0\">Tightness in the chest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"18,2,0\">Lymph nodes that remain enlarged for a long time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"19\">3. Smears-prints<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\">A glass or instrument is applied directly to an open wound, erosion, or ulcer on the skin to collect the top layer of cells for analysis.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"22\">How to prepare for the analysis<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"23\">Improper preparation can result in too few cells or too many foreign particles (such as mucus or blood) entering the lab, making it difficult for the lab technician to give a clear answer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"horizontal-scroll-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"table-block-component\">\n<div class=\"table-block has-export-button new-table-style is-at-scroll-start is-at-scroll-end\">\n<div class=\"table-content\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ3ecQahgKEwi_jbi1gK-VAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ5gY\">\n<div class=\"table-scroll\"><table data-path-to-node=\"24\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><span data-path-to-node=\"24,0,0,0\">Analysis type<\/span><\/th>\n<th><span data-path-to-node=\"24,0,1,0\">What the patient needs to do<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"24,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Gynecological smear (PAP test)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,1,1,0\">The material is not submitted during menstruation (it is better to plan the visit 5-7 days after it ends). Two days before the visit, you cannot have sex, insert vaginal suppositories, tampons, douche, or undergo a pelvic ultrasound.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"24,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Puncture of nodes (thyroid gland)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,2,1,0\">There are no special dietary restrictions. The main thing is to warn your doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medications (aspirin, cardiomagnyl, etc.), as they may need to be temporarily discontinued.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"24,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Sputum collection<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,3,1,0\">Mucus is collected in the morning, immediately after waking up and before eating. Before coughing into the jar, you should rinse your mouth well with plain water without toothpaste.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"24,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Urine cytology<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"24,4,1,0\">The first portion of urine in the morning should be flushed down the toilet. The second portion (during the morning) is collected for analysis. It is imperative to wash before this.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"table-footer hide-on-print hide-from-message-actions\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote data-path-to-node=\"26\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"26,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"26,0\" data-index-in-node=\"3\">Importantly:<\/b> The result of cytology is not a ready diagnosis, but only a detailed description of the cells under a microscope. The final conclusion and treatment plan are written only by your doctor, taking into account the symptoms, patient complaints, and other tests.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Laboratory analysis of cells allows you to detect pathological changes in the body even before the disease begins to manifest itself with the first symptoms. Cytology \u2014<\/p>","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":4246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,233],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zhinoche-zdorov-ya","category-rozshyfrovka-analiziv-ta-pidgotovka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}