Role of re-screening of cervical smears in internal quality control.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of rapid re-screening as a quality control method for previously screened cervical slides; to compare this method with 10% random re-screening and clinically indicated double screening.


METHODS
Between June 1990 and December 1994, 117,890 negative smears were subjected to rapid re-screening.


RESULTS
This study shows that rapid re-screening detects far greater numbers of false negative cases when compared with both 10% random re-screening and clinically indicated double screening, with no additional demand on human resources. The technique also identifies variation in the performance of screening personnel as an additional benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid re-screening is an effective method of quality control. Although less sensitive, rapid re-screening should replace 10% random re-screening and selected re-screening as greater numbers of false negative results are detected while consuming less resources.
Department of Clinical Cytopathology, Brighton General Hospital, Sussex.
A
A
Baker
D
D
Melcher
R
R
Smith
D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004739:England; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*