title: Influence of smear quality on the rate of detecting significant cervical cytologic abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation between cervical smear quality and the rate of detecting significant epithelial abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smear quality was assessed routinely in a series of 68,328 cervical spatula and spatula/brush combination smears received by our laboratory during 1993. Quality was assessed using a semiquantitative method, evaluating the presence of endocervical cells, metaplastic squamous cells, endocervical mucus and overall squamous cellularity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smear quality was graded as unsatisfactory, poor (18,680 smears), fair (9,739 smears) or good (39,909 smears); unsatisfactory smears were eliminated from the analysis. There was a highly significant correlation between smear quality and the rate of detecting significant epithelial abnormalities (chi 2=127.52, df=2, P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smear quality is an important issue. Many significant abnormalities are potentially missed because of poor smear quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cytology, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadehra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D011786:Quality Control; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*