The retrieval of columnar endocervical cells from the squamocolumnar junction has generally been considered to be a measure of the adequacy of a Papanicolaous smear ; this implies that if endocervical cells are absent from the smear, the
examination for
cervical is less than optimal and should be repeated. The quality of the cervical smear, a decisive factor in the efficacy of population screening can depend on the sampling method utilized.
An analysis was made of the performance of the four sampling methods each had used; Self cytopick(method A), Cotton ball(method B), Cytobrush(method C), Cervix(method D).
1) Endocervical cells were present in 85%(method C), 74%(method D), 14%(method B), 7%(method A).
2) Metaplastic cells were present in 44%(method D), 40%(method C), 27%(method B), 8%(method A) of the smears.
Based on the results of this study we would advise the use of Cytobrush or Cervix for population screening and would advise against the use of cotton ball.
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