Comparison of Carnoy's solution and 96% ethyl alcohol fixation in bloody Pap smears.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 2 methods of fixation in bloody Pap smears with Carnoy's solution and 96% ethyl alcohol.


METHODS
After observation of contact bleeding, 2 samples were prepared from cervical cells with conventional Pap smear. One sample was fixed in 96% ethyl alcohol and another sample was fixed in Carnoy's solution.


RESULTS
Of 450 slides, 410 were selected for study. In study of cell adequacy, diagnosis of squamous cells and glandular cells was better in Carnoy's-fixed slides. Blood contamination of slides was reduced in Carnoy's-fixed slides (13.85% vs. 49.51%), and clearance of slides was increased in Carnoy's-fixed slides. Diagnosis of inflammatory cells and pathogenic microorganisms in was increased in Carnoy's-fixed slides, but no difference was seen in diagnosis of epithelial cell and glandular cell abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Carnoy's solution can be used as an effective fixative in bloody smears in conventional Pap tests.
Shamsi
Mehri
M
Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. mehri13@yahoo.com
Abdali
Khadijeh
K
Montazer
Nader Riyaz
NR
Kumar
Perikala V
PV
Tabatabaee
Hamid Reza
HR
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D002725:Chloroform; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
C033474:Carnoy's solution; D005404:Fixatives; D000431:Ethanol; D002725:Chloroform; D019342:Acetic Acid