[Pap test: liquid-based--thin-layer. A new method: results].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the thin-layer technique we have developed.


METHODS
An adequate shaking, a calibration and a centrifugation in liquid phase are the essential and specific stages of this technique. More than 160 000 samples were prepared according to this methodology in eight years.


RESULTS
The immediate profit of the technique is the increase of the number of interpretable samples: 99.9%. First years: net increase of the lesion detection rate in comparison with conventional cervical smear. 1.7 versus 0.9% for the low-grade lesions; 1.0 versus 0.4% for the high-grade lesions. After three years the detection rate of low-grade lesions remained high: 1.7% while the ASCUS/AGUS and high-grade lesions decreased to reach, respectively, 1.1 and 0.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of the thin-layer preparation, the best approach of the endocervical pathology, and the possibility to identify rare events, allowed us at first to increase detection of lesions. After three years of "picking up" of lesions forgotten by conventional cervical smear, the rate of high-grade lesions stabilised in 0.4%. Thus, it is advisable to take into account the notion of time as for the estimate of the lesion rate when using thin-layer technique compared with that of conventional cervical smear.
Hammou
J-C
JC
Cabinet de pathologie, 1, rue du Docteur-Barety, BP 1476, 06008 Nice, France. jchammou@wanadoo.fr
Bertino
B
B
Blancheri
A
A
Kon Man
P
P
Patoz
L
L
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*