Abstract: A device and process for sampling tissue and fluid from bodily cavities comprises an aspirating curette or catheter with at least one notch at its distal end to provide edges for a scraping action sufficient to loosen tissue from the wall of a bodily cavity. The aspirating curette is slidably mounted in and encased by a protective sleeve that has a contamination preventing plug at its outer end. The protective sleeve is shorter than the curette and a removable stop member is provided to initially limit the movement of the protective sleeve toward the base of the curette. When the protective sleeve and curette have been inserted into the bodily cavity the stop is removed, permitting the aspirating curette to be moved outwardly through the protective sleeve, dislodging the plug and exposing the notch in the curette. Fluids may be drawn into the aspirating curette which is then rotated to scrape the cavity wall, and the curette is drawn back into the protective sleeve.