title: Quality Indicators of Cervical Cytopathology Tests in the Public Service in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to assess the performance of cytopathology laboratories providing services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study uses data obtained from the Cervical Cancer Information System from January to December 2012. Three quality indicators were analyzed to assess the quality of cervical cytopathology tests: positivity index, percentage of atypical squamous cells (ASCs) in abnormal tests, and percentage of tests compatible with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Laboratories were classified according to their production scale in tests per year ≤ 5,000; from 5,001 to 10,000; from 10,001 to 15,000; and ≥ 15,001. Based on the collection of variables and the classification of laboratories according to production scale, we created and analyzed a database using Microsoft Office Excel 97-2003.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, 146 laboratories provided services to the SUS in 2012 by performing a total of 1,277,018 cervical cytopathology tests. Half of these laboratories had production scales ≤ 5,000 tests/year and accounted for 13.1% of all tests performed in the entire state; in turn, 13.7% of these laboratories presented production scales of > 15,001 tests/year and accounted for 49.2% of the total of tests performed in the entire state. The positivity indexes of most laboratories providing services to the SUS in 2012, regardless of production scale, were below or well below recommended limits. Of the 20 laboratories that performed more than 15,001 tests per year, only three presented percentages of tests compatible with HSILs above the lower limit recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of laboratories providing services to the SUS in Minas Gerais presented quality indicators outside the range recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Hermógenes Gomes
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita Goreti
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: State Health Department of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elói Martins
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears