title: Urine cytology as a medical surveillance tool: a study of variability in interpretation of urine cytology slides.
abstract: This study examines the value of urine cytology as a medical surveillance technique in the industrial setting through an evaluation of the variability in interpretation of urine cytology slides. Urine samples were collected from 259 individuals for cytological examination. The slides were read by pathologists and screeners at one large Army medical center and separately read again by an independent pathologist at another Army medical center. The two independent readings for each of the 259 cases were compared. The comparison indicated that overall agreement was fairly high in reporting the presence or absence of inflammatory cells, red blood cells, and atypical (including metaplastic) cells. However, considering positive findings of the presence of red blood cells or atypical cells only, significant differences between the two independent readings were noted when the sign test was applied. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of the use of urine cytology as a medical surveillance tool in occupational medicine.
mesh_terms: D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*