What is an aspirate?
An aspirate is very low risk, non-invasive technique by which cells from an area are collected or aspirated by using a syringe and a small needle. The collection of these cells is done via ultrasound guidance to reduce the risk of bleeding. By collecting these cells, they can be put on a microscope slide and reviewed for further diagnosis. If the sample is of good quality, it can then be sent out for review by a board certified veterinary pathologist for a more definitive diagnosis. Aspirates can be done on the liver, spleen, GI masses, lymph nodes, skin nodules, or other structures. Sometimes, an aspirate does not yield enough cells to be read and a more invasive procedure called a biopsy is needed.
