The quality of the Pap smear.
Three methods of cervical Pap smear have been studied: the classical spatula, the combination of spatula and cytobrush, and the Cervex-Brush. Thirty-two percent of the spatula smears did not provide endocervical cylinder cells. Significantly better results can be achieved by performing the smear with a combination of spatula and cytobrush (11% without cylinder cells), or with Cervex-Brush (15% without cylinder cells). Cervical smears using a spatula alone are therefore discouraged.
Fokke
H E
HE
Onze Lieve Vrouw Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Salvatore
C M
CM
Schipper
M E
ME
Bleker
O P
OP
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011786:Quality Control; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*