title: Improved sensitivity over time with rapid prescreening in gynecologic cytology.
abstract: Rapid prescreening (RPS) is a powerful tool to measure and improve performance in the cytology laboratory. Long-term use of RPS has been shown to result in improved sensitivity and precision in routine screening. The effect of long-term RPS on RPS itself is not known. We compared the sensitivity of 100% RPS of Surepath™ liquid-based cytology over a 4-year period in a laboratory of 11 cytotechnologists (CTs). In comparison with the first 2 years, RPS for the laboratory showed a significant increase in sensitivity for all abnormalities (72.2% vs. 67.3%, P < 0.001) and ASCUS + LSIL (68.5% vs. 62.1%, P < 0.001). For individual CTs s, the lowest sensitivity for all abnormalities increased from 59.0 to 63.2%, whereas, for HSIL, it increased from 71.4% to 75.0%. We conclude that long-term use of RPS leads to significant increase in the sensitivity of RPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dudding
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity