What is the function of a fluid cytospin in laboratory testing?

The function of a fluid cytospin in laboratory testing is to concentrate cells on a slide. This technique is particularly useful for preparing specimens from body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, or urine, which may have a low cellularity. By using centrifugal force, the fluid cytospin allows a high number of cells to settle onto a microscopic slide in a thin monolayer. This concentration facilitates easier visual examination under the microscope, enabling laboratory scientists to assess cell morphology or conduct various cytological analyses effectively.

Other processes like separating plasma from blood cells, measuring blood volume, or analyzing blood gases do not utilize the fluid cytospin method and serve different purposes altogether.