Partial rescreening of all negative smears: an improved method of quality assurance in laboratories undertaking cervical screening.
Partial rescreening was carried out on 9633 cervical smears reported as negative by standard screening. Each slide was 'step-screened' at normal speed for 30 s. Thirteen false negative smears were detected by this method. No false negatives were revealed by conventionally rescreening 10% of the same study group. The sensitivity of the method was assessed by 'step-screening' 100 known positive smears. Of this group 92 were detected. The results indicate that partial rescreening is a sensitive method of quality assurance and should replace conventional 10% proportional rescreening, which is ineffective.
Faraker
C A
CA
Cytology Department, Royal East Sussex Hospital, Hastings, UK.
D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*