D. Butland et A. Herbert, COMPARISON OF CERVICAL CYTOLOGY REPORTING RATES - A USEFUL ADJUNCT TOEXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE, Cytopathology, 7(6), 1996, pp. 391-399
Reporting rates for abnormal and inadequate cervical smears have been
compared during a 5-year period in nine laboratories and related to ta
rgets and achievable ranges recently recommended by the National Healt
h Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP). There was improved co
nsistency in rates for all grades of abnormality as well as inadequate
smears. The average rate for moderate and severe dyskaryosis combined
increased to 1.6%, which is the target recommended by the NHSCSP, and
the standard deviation fell from 0.52 to 0.27. Although average rates
for mild dyskaryosis and borderline nuclear change combined and inade
quate smears both remained within the achievable range recommended by
the NHSCSP, four laboratories were above the upper limit for each of t
hose categories in the final year. During the 5 years of the study the
re was a fall in the number of 'inflammatory' smears coded as negative
with a recommendation for early repeat. Only one laboratory still use
s that category. The challenge for the future lies in controlling high
rates for minor abnormalities and inadequate smears while maintaining
acceptable rates for moderate and severe dyskaryosis. Comparison of r
eporting rates is regarded by the participating laboratories as a usef
ul adjunct to external quality assurance.