IMPACT OF AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY ON THE CERVICAL CYTOLOGIC SMEAR - A COMPARISON OF COST

The cervical cytologic screening test for cervical cancer is the large st-volume cancer screening test currently conducted predominantly with out the advantage of process automation. Much attention has been direc ted toward commercial application of automated technology to support b oth quality enhancement and productivity gain in cervical cytology scr eening. Several systems are now available for clinical application tha t address various aspects of cervical cytologic screening automation. These include specimen-preparation devices and image-based automated s creeners. Each system provides a different mix of benefits and impacts cost differently as well. This, coupled with the fact that few system s are in broad clinical use as yet, makes it difficult to conduct para llel cost-benefit analysis. A comparison is presented on the impact of system use on the laboratory's cost to conduct the test. Although the re is a demand for technology that can support improvements in quality and/or productivity of cervical cytologic screening, there is also a responsibility for fiscal prudence in technology implementation. Produ cts that dramatically increase the cost of service, and thus perhaps l imit access to care for some patients, may have an impact on patient o utcomes quite apart from that intended.