Collodion Fixation and Protection of Cytological Smears for Transportation and for Staining by Papanicolaou's Method

A 1% collodion solution in a 1:1 mixture of 95% alcohol and ether can be used to fix smears and to form a protective coating on them. Such coating permits transportation of dry slides over long distances to a laboratory for staining and diagnosis. The collodion solution can be used several times provided that it is filtered after each specimen is coated. With urine sediments, the application of the coating keeps a large number of cells on the slide, hence facilitates a thorough examination and more reliable diagnosis. Papanicolaou's method is recommended for staining the coated specimens, especially those for the diagnosis of cancer.