THINPREP(TM) PROCESSOR - CLINICAL-TRIALS DEMONSTRATE AN INCREASED DETECTION RATE OF ABNORMAL CERVICAL CYTOLOGIC SPECIMENS

The authors compared the accuracy of conventionally prepared smears an d smears prepared by an automated, fluid-based, thin-layer processing device in the detection of cytologic abnormalities. A total of 3218 pa tients from five centers took part in this study, in,which a single ce rvical sample was split into a matched pair. The conventional smear wa s made in the routine fashion; the remainder of the cells on the sampl ing device were rinsed into a transport-fixation fluid. A slide was th en prepared from the solution using the thin-layer processor. Diagnost ic findings identified on the two preparations were compared in a blin ded fashion, and a discrepancy resolution procedure was used to elimin ate screening differences. Overall, there was a high correlation in th e diagnoses of the two methods. For low-grade or more severe disease, the thin-layer method resulted in a 13% increase in tile rate of detec tion, as compared with the conventional Papanicolaou smear technique.