title: Processing liquid-based gynecologic specimens: comparison of the available techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a cytopreparation protocol suitable for satisfactory processing by the AutoCyte PREP System with the gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt fluid for the ThinPrep machine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The residue of a number of gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt and processed by ThinPrep were processed by AutoCyte PREP. Some modifications were made in the cytopreparatory protocol in order to obtain satisfactory specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ThinPrep and AutoCyte PREP specimens were examined independently. The results were comparable, with a high degree of concordance between the two techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt and following the ThinPrep specimen collection protocol can be processed using the AutoCyte PREP System. Minor protocol modifications provided comparable diagnostic material. Additional studies are needed to explore the feasibility of this approach and fulfill the various U.S. regulatory agency requirements for the liquid-based Pap test.
authors.affiliation: Cytopathology and Cytometry Section, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia 19104, USA. guptap@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Z W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Baloch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cobbs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bibbo
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology