title: Increasing cytotechnologist workload above 100 slides per day using the BD FocalPoint GS imaging system negatively affects screening performance.
abstract: Studies examining the effects of increased workload on the performance of individual cytotechnologists are limited. Using FocalPoint GS, the performance of 3 cytotechnologists was evaluated. The study consisted of 3 phases. In phase I, cytotechnologists were asked to screen at their usual pace. In phase II, cytotechnologists were asked to screen as fast as possible without feeling that the quality of their work was diminished. In phase III, cytotechnologists were asked to screen at least 15% more than their daily workload from phase II. Productivity was increased by decreasing the percentage of cases that underwent full manual review (from 38% to 19%) and by decreasing the time spent on each slide (from 5.5 min to 3.7 min). Overall, the total abnormal rate decreased by 31.9% from phase I to phase III of the study. In addition, the false-negative fraction increased significantly, from 1% to 6.9%. Our results indicated a negative association between increased cytotechnologist daily workload with FocalPoint GS and CT screening performance. Workloads were increased by decreasing the time spent reviewing 10 fields of view and the percentage of cases that underwent full manual review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Angelique.levi@yale.edu
authors.forename: Angelique W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galullo
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gordy
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mikolaiski
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Tarik M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Elsheikh
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harigopal
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chhieng
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008403:Mass Screening; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D016526:Workload; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*