Fluorescent location of malignant cells in fine needle aspirates

Malignant cells in fine needle aspirates possess a cell surface protease wh ich can be targeted with fluorescent affinity probes. Cells with active GB exhibit cell surface fluorescence when stained with such affinity probes. T he nuclei of all cells on the slides can be counterstained with a nuclear f luorescent stain. Malignant cells are then located by their cell surface fl uorescence and their diagnosis confirmed by examining their fluorescent nuc lei. Normal cells and benign cells exhibit no cell surface fluorescence and can be ignored This technique can be used to rapidly select cells of cytol ogical interest in FNA samples obtained routinely and might be adapted for automated screening of FNA.