Comparison of specimen adequacy in two cervical sampling METHODS: Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The quality of specimen for Papanicolaou smear depends on the sampling methods of uterine cervix. This study was designed to test specimen adequacy and the detection of disease using t,wo cervical cytological sampling methods. pastic spatula plus Cytobrish and Cervex-Brush. METHODS: Research subjects were t.he exarninee for screening for cevical cancer in Farnily Practice Center and Health Promotion Center of University Hospital. Research sub jects were classified to two groups randomly. 5 physicians used each device at random. A group 80 test smples(plast,ic spatula plus Cytobrush) were compared with B group test samples(Cervex Brush) for the presence rate of endocervial cells and specimen adequacy. The laborat.ory was blind to the sampling met,hods. RESULTS: The plastic spatula plus Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush were comparable in cap- turing in endocervical cells. But the capturing rates of both methods were high(over 70%). Both the pastic spatula plus Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush produced adequate samples, and the adequacy scores between two methods were not different. significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the plastic spatula puls Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush produced adequate smear for interpretation.