A comparison of thiomersal and 50% alcohol as preservatives in urinary cytology.
The efficacy of 50% ethyl alcohol and of thiomersal as preservatives in urinary cytology were compared. In both methods over 80% of the cells were sufficiently well preserved after three days to allow cytomorphological evaluation, and over 50% on the seventh day. In the specimens without preservative, only 54% and 28% were intact after the same time intervals. In contrast with 50% ethyl alchohol, thiomersal is a more effective bactericide, it does not increase the volume of the sample, it is cheaper, and it does not affect the cytomorphology.
D001437:Bacteriuria; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000652:urine
D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds; D013849:Thimerosal; D000431:Ethanol