Immunostaining of small cytologic specimens: Facilitation with cell transfer

Immunocytochemical study of cytologic specimens is often limited by the number of slides containing diagnostic cells. This study examined the effectiveness of transferring cells from a single smear to multiple slides in order to perform a battery of immunocytochemical stains on limited material. Immunostaining performed on four effusions and five fine needle aspirates yielded the expected results for most of the antibodies commonly employed in diagnostic pathology. Background staining was generally low following cell transfer, and the morphology of the cells was preserved. These results suggest that cell transfer in combination with immunocytochemistry may prove useful in the cytologic diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, neuroendocrine neoplasms, prostatic and mammary adenocarcinoma, and other malignant tumors.