FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology)
FNAC uses a thin needle to take a few cells from a lump or swollen gland, and the smear is studied under a microscope to help show if the cause is infection, a cyst or a tumour. It needs no cut.
- Sample
- Smear
- Quantity
- Smear
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Type of cells in the lump, swelling or gland
- Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils (infection-fighting white cells)
- Bacteria or yeast, when they are seen on the smear
- Cyst fluid or fat cells from harmless lumps
- Size and shape changes in abnormal cells that may point to a tumour
Benefits of this test
- Quick and simple, using only a thin needle.
- Needs no cut, and many animals do not need anaesthesia.
- Gives an early idea whether a lump is inflammation, a cyst or a tumour.
- Helps the vet decide if the lump needs a biopsy or other tests.
- Several lumps or glands can be sampled in the same visit.
Often discussed at these ages:Senior Dog
When your vet may advise it
- A new lump or swelling appears on the skin or under it.
- A lymph node (gland) under the jaw, in front of the shoulder or behind the knee feels swollen.
- A soft swelling could be an abscess or a pocket of fluid, and the vet wants to know which.
- A lump is growing quickly or has changed in size or colour.
- A swelling on a cow or buffalo does not settle on its own.
- The vet wants a fast first test before deciding on surgery.
About this test
FNAC stands for Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. Cytology means studying cells. Your vet puts a thin needle into a lump, a swelling or an enlarged lymph node (gland) and draws out a few cells, which are spread on a glass slide to make a smear. No cut is needed, and in many animals the sample can be taken while the animal is awake.
At the lab, the smear is stained and a veterinary pathologist studies the cells one by one under the microscope. The cells may be inflammatory cells from an abscess or infection, fatty cells or fluid from a cyst or a harmless lump, or abnormal cells that may point to a tumour.
FNAC is commonly used for a quick first look at a lump. It is faster and simpler than a surgical biopsy, but it shows only loose cells and not the pattern of the tissue. If the answer is not clear, your vet may advise a biopsy. It is used for dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes. Reporting time is confirmed when you book.
How to prepare
Fasting is usually not needed unless sedation is planned, so follow your vet's advice, and do not put cream, powder or oil on the lump before sampling. Let the smears dry in the air and keep them in a slide box away from formalin fumes, so do not pack them with a biopsy jar. Free collection is available anywhere in Bhopal, and outside Bhopal the slides can travel by courier or bus parcel, or through your local vet.
Reading the result
The report describes the cells seen on the smear. Your registered veterinarian reads it with the size and place of the lump, the animal's signs and its history, and may advise a biopsy or other tests if the smear is not clear enough.
Questions about FNAC
Is FNAC painful for my pet?
Can FNAC tell me if a lump is cancer?
Will my pet need a biopsy after FNAC?
How should I send FNAC slides to the lab?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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18 Oct 2026