title: Quality control measures for cervical cytology laboratories.
abstract: The results of three quality control measures for evaluating a cytopathology laboratory's performance in the diagnosis of cervical abnormalities are presented. The sensitivities of cervical cytology were estimated to be 95.5% or 93.1% (using two different methods of analysis) for the detection of histologically diagnosed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and 60% for the detection of adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix in 1983. The positive predictive values for a histologic diagnosis of neoplasia after cytologic reports of CIN III and invasive carcinoma were 92.5% and 99%, respectively. Repeatability of a negative cytologic result exceeded 98%. These results indicate that accurate cervical cytologic reporting can be achieved. Regular monitoring of the type described, which is both practical and reasonably comprehensive, is recommended for all laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Cytology (Gynaecological) Service (VCGS), Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011786:Quality Control; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*