title: A new, liquid-based cytology technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a new liquid-based cytology technique, Papspin (Thermo Shandon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three thousand cervical samples were examined. Each cervix was sampled with a Cervex Brush (Roche, Oss, the Netherlands), used first for a Pap smear and afterwards for a Papspin. One cytospin was prepared from each vial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An identical rate of epithelial cell abnormalities (3.8%) was detected with the two methods. Diagnostic concordance was observed in 86% of the 114 cases. Differences in diagnoses occurred in 168 of 3,000 cases (5.6%) concerning fungal infection (22 cases), epithelial cell abnormalities (24 cases) and minimal differences within the nonneoplastic Bethesda category (122 cases). Endocervical cells were absent from 158 Papspins (5.3%) and 66 Pap smears (2.2%), while they were present in the respective Pap smear or Papspin. Seven Papspins were considered "satisfactory, but limited by ..." (SBLB) as compared to 33 Pap smears given the absence of endocervical cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discordances concerning epithelial cell abnormalities were observed in 24 of 3,000 cases (0.8%). Fungal infections were more easily diagnosed on Papspin. The absence of endocervical cells in 5.3% of Papspins is due to a bias of methodology. Quality improvement was evident on Papspin for SBLB specimens. HPV testing could be performed with good results.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires St Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weynand
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berlière
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haumont
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massart
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourvoyeur
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral