Bronchial Alveolar Lavage

Synonyms

BAL, Bronchial Washings, Tracheal Washings

  • Tech Only CPT 88112,88305
  • Tech Pro CPT 88112 (2), 88305 (2)
  • PowerPath Code NGBAL
  • Schedule Monday - Friday
  • Turn Around Time Within 2 business days of receipt
  • Disease State Benign Conditions, GI Tract Cancer, Lung Cancer
  • Methodology Cell Block Cytology, Liquid-Based Cell Enhanced Concentrated Cytology

Organs

Lung

Specimen Requirements

Fresh or CytoLyt fixed fluid in sterile container collected during BAL. No minimum/maximum volume requirements. Small volume may limit interpretation.

Clinical Significance

Cellular morphology of cytologic specimens is interpreted to diagnose inflammatory, neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. In addition, cytologic diagnoses is used to monitor recurrent and metastatic malignant conditions.

Required Patient Info

2 patient identifiers

Storage and Transportation

When possible, store specimen at 2°C - 8°C, particularly for unfixed specimens. Specimen may be transported at 15°C - 30°C. Do not freeze.

Cause for Rejection

Improper or inadequate patient identification, frozen specimens

Retention

Primary specimen container: 7 days from processing
Secondary ThinPrep Vial: 14 days from processing
Slide: 10 years