The effect of lubricant contamination on ThinPrep® (Cytyc) cervical cytology liquid-based preparations |
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Authors: | T Holton D Smith M Terry A Madgwick T Levine |
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Institution: | Department of Cellular Pathology, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, Harrow;, and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Westminster, London, UK |
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Abstract: | Objectives: To assess the extent of lubricant use by smear-takers and the effect of lubricant contamination of ThinPrep® processed cervical cytology samples. Methods: All primary care smear-takers were sent a questionnaire on lubricant type and frequency of use. Fifty cervical cytology samples were then contaminated with incremental amounts of K-Y® jelly, 50 samples contaminated with incremental amounts of Aquagel® and ten non-contaminated vials were processed using the ThinPrep® T2000 processor followed by Papanicolaou staining. The morphological appearances of lubricant contamination were described microscopically and formal cell counts performed on all slides. Results: Seventy of 94 (74.5%) primary care smear-takers indicated lubricant use of whom 9/70 (12.8%) used Aquagel® and 61/70 (87.2%) used K-Y® jelly. K-Y® jelly appeared as mucoid blue deposits in the slide background whereas Aquagel® appeared as pink stringy background material. Cell counting showed a significant difference between Aquagel® and K-Y® jelly contaminated slides compared to the original non-contaminated preparations for all fields and the average fields ( P < 0.001) with a significantly higher count for the original non-contaminated slides than the lubricant contaminated groups. Conclusion: Lubricant contamination of ThinPrep® cervical cytology samples may result in reduced cellularity of the subsequent slide. This study provides evidence-based data to support British Society for Clinical Cytology recommendations for no lubricant use when taking cervical samples. |
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Keywords: | cervical cytology ThinPrep® lubricant inadequate BSCC recommendations |
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