SINGLE-SLIDE VERSUS DOUBLE-SLIDE PAP SMEAR - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Comparison of the single-slide versus double-slide Pap smear method wa s performed using ectocervical and endocervical samples taken with the Ayre spatula and Cytobrush and placed together on one slide or on two separate slides. Eight hundred cases were collected by four different physicians in a gynecologic clinic (100 consecutive cases per doctor per method). All samples were evaluated at the Thomas Jefferson Univer sity Hospital. Parameters evaluated were: specimen adequacy, quality a nd detection of disease. Results for the double-slide method were: 352 /400 (88%) satisfactory, 48/400 (12%) satisfactory, but limited, and 0 % unsatisfactory cases. Results for the single-slide method were: 347/ 400 (86.7%) satisfactory, 50/400 (12.5%) satisfactory, but limited, an d 3/400 (0.75%) unsatisfactory cases. Results regarding detection of d isease were 16/400 (4%) CIN 1/400 (0.25%) carcinomas with the double-s lide method as compared to 13/400 (3.25%) CIN and no carcinomas with t he single-slide method. No statistically significant differences were found regarding specimen adequacy (P = 0.31), quality (P = 1.00), and detection of disease [CIN (P=0.71) and carcinomas (P=1.0)]. These prel iminary findings suggest that the single-slide method is as efficaciou s as the double-slide method, although a larger group of patients with a longer follow-up need to be evaluated.