A tissue sample collection assembly (46) collects undamaged cells from a tissue specimen (10) comprising a damaged tissue layer at a margin (24) thereof. The assembly includes a tissue-severing device (16) used to separate at least a portion of the damaged tissue layer. The tissue-severing device may have a tissue-adhesive surface (36) so that undamaged cells may contact and adhere to the tissue-adhesive surface for subsequent analysis. The assembly may comprise an apertured device comprising inner and outer surfaces with apertures passing therebetween. The apertures may be sized and shaped so that when the inner surface of the apertured device is pressed against a tissue specimen, portions of an undamaged tissue layer of the tissue specimen pass through the apertures and past the outer surface so that the tissue-severing device can sever the undamaged tissue layer portions from the remainder of the tissue specimen.
