title: Recommendations on Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Cervical Cytology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to critically evaluate the importance of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) strategies in the routine work of uterine cervix cytology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We revised all the main principles of QC and QA that are already being implemented worldwide and then discussed the positive aspects and limitations of these as well as proposing alternatives when pertinent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A literature review was introduced after highlighting the main historical revisions, and then a critical evaluation of the principal innovations in screening programmes was conducted, with recommendations being postulated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the analysed data, QC and QA are two essential arms that support the quality of a screening programme.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cytopathology, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Branca
authors.forename: Adhemar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longatto-Filho
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000592:standards; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*