Examination of Body Fluids and Tissues

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The clinical pathology laboratory also enables the veterinarian

to examine and analyze various body fluids and cells that may be

present in a particular sample.  Fluids may be aspirated by

syringe from body cavities and cysts and may be studied in the

same manner as a urine sample.  Microscopically examining the

cellular portion of the sample is called cytologic analysis.

Pressing a microscope slide against a particular tissue results

in the deposition of some of its cells on the slide's surface.

Such impression smears can be made from tissue masses (lumps,

etc.), abscesses, discharges, wounds, etc.  Various stains can

be used to prepare these impression smears before their

microscopic examination.  Cytologic and fluid analyses are

valuable diagnostic tools in avian medicine.