Abstract
The ThinPrep process, a new automated fluid-based technique for the collection and preparation of cytologic specimens, was evaluated for cervical cytology in terms of its reproducibility, ease of screening and diagnostic sensitivity. A series of 10 consecutive ThinPrep slides made from the same cell suspension, from one patient, provided almost the same number of epithelial cells, pattern of cell arrangement, cell size destribution and number of atypical cells from slide to slide.In comparison with the conventional method of manually smearing slides, the ThinPrep slide screening was revealed to be much more labor-saving, because only 25% of the screening area, 12% observation of epithelial cells and 62% of the screening time were required to obtain the same diagnostic sensitivity.Thus, the ThinPrep process showed its principle of reproducible random sampling and good diagnostic efficacy despite some problems needing improvement, including incomplete automation and high cost performance.
