Enhancing recovery of endocervical component on gynecologic cytology specimens processed by thin-layer technology.
OBJECTIVE
To address the causes and report the corrective measures required for resolving the initial problem of high rates of cervical vaginal cytology specimens reported as having no endocervical component on SurePath (AutoCyte, Inc., Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) liquid-based, thin-layer technology at an academic center cytology laboratory.


METHODS
Analysis of 511 cases lacking endocervical/transformation zone component out of 9,221 SurePath thin-layer gynecologic specimens processed in a one-year period. The study encompassed a review of sample collection techniques by physicians and nurses, specimen processing, cytologic features of endocervical/squamous metaplastic cells processed by the SurePath method and statistical analysis of endocervical cell recovery rates after implementation of corrective measures.


RESULTS
Absence of endocervical/transformation zone component varied from an initial 18% in the first month to an average of 5.3% after corrective actions were implemented. Current rates of SurePath thin-layer specimens having no endocervical component are lower than those for conventional smears.


CONCLUSIONS
Since SurePath was only recently introduced to the market, there are no previously published data addressing how to optimize the recovery of endocervical component on liquid-based, thin-layer specimens processed by this methodology.
Tibbs
Rita F
RF
Division of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, 9.300 John Sealy Annex, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0548, USA.
Wong
Jick Y
JY
Logroño
Roberto
R
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000379:methods / Q000517:prevention & control; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D015983:Selection Bias; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends