COMPARISON OF THE CYTOBRUSH PLUS PLASTIC SPATULA WITH THE CERVEX BRUSH FOR OBTAINING ENDOCERVICAL CELLS

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the Cytobrush plus plastic spatula with that of the Cervex Brush for obtaining acceptable yields of endocervical cells in Papanicolaou smears. Methods: We collected 30 9 smears over a 6-month period, 132 with the Cytobrush plus spatula an d 177 with the Cervex Brush. About one-third of the patients in each g roup were pregnant. Numbers of endocervical cells in the smears were d escribed as none, few, moderate, or many. Results: Moderate or large n umbers of endocervical cells were collected from 60.5% of the women in the Cervex Brush group and 65.2% of those in the Cytobrush-spatula gr oup. The percentages were not statistically different. Conclusion: The Cytobrush plus spatula and the Cervex Brush sampling methods were equ ally effective in obtaining endocervical cells in routine Papanicolaou smears.