title: Manual Liquid-Based Cytology: A Clinical Pilot Study of the VitroPrep™ Cytology Processing Kit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to assess the utility of the manual liquid-based cytology (LBC) product VitroPrep™ Cytology Processing Kit (ChemQ Bioscience LLC, Research Triangle Park, N.C., USA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive pilot study. Women underwent cervical sampling processed by the ThinPrep™ automated LBC system followed by cervical sampling for the VitroPrep manual system. The following criteria were assessed on a scale of 1-5 (1 = unsatisfactory, 2 = borderline, 3 = acceptable, 4 = good, 5 = excellent): monolayer cell adhesion, overall cellularity, background clarity, preservation of cellular morphology, red cell lysis, and elimination of mucus/debris. Cytological diagnosis was compared to results from ThinPrep samples. In addition, VitroPrep samples were taken prior to conization procedures and compared to pathology results. Descriptive statistics were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two of 47 women who underwent dual cytologic sampling had satisfactory samples. All scores were 3-5, with >90% graded 4-5. The VitroPrep diagnosis correlated with the ThinPrep diagnosis in 90% (38/42) of cases. All specimens obtained from 15 women prior to conization were satisfactory and correlated abnormal cytologic findings with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1-3 pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VitroPrep Cytology Processing Kit was able to provide adequate specimens for evaluation and diagnosis. This low-cost processing kit may provide a useful alternative in settings where automated LBC systems may not be feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N.C., USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rahangdale
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Budwit
authors.forename: Davoud
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.forename: Anayo L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ohadugha
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D061809:Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic