Use of liquid-based cytology in serous fluids: a comparison with conventional cytopreparatory techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the performance of liquid-based cytology (LBC) on body cavity fluids as compared with conventional cytopreparatory techniques.


METHODS
Slides from a total of 592 serous fluids, effusions as well as intraoperative washings, were reviewed. Of these fluids, 301 were collected before and 291 after the introduction of the PrepStain LBC (TriPath Imaging, Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) in our laboratory.


RESULTS
PrepStain thin layers showed excellent morphology on a clear background, with preservation of 3-dimensional configurations and a sufficient amount of extracellular material to allow an accurate diagnosis. Cytopreparation, screening and interpretation of LBC were less time consuming. Moreover, when the performance of the various cytopreparatory techniques in malignant fluids was studied, PrepStain thin layers excelled over conventional cytopreparatory methods in showing a significantly lower false negative rate (P=.0414).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that in body fluid cytology, thin layers can safely replace other types of wet-fixed preparations, resulting in enhanced specimen quality and diminished false negative rates.
Gabriel
Charlotte
C
Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Achten
Ruth
R
Drijkoningen
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000473:pathology
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic