ABSTRACT
Maryland's Proficiency Testing (PT) Program in cytology has attempted to meet eight technical criteria by implementing PT standards that include rigorously criterion-referenced Papanicolaou smear-stained glass slides from actual patients; conducting PT in the laboratory; having PT conducted and monitored by a regulatory agency; testing cytotechnologist and pathologist in conjunction, yet employing separate grading systems based on a limited number of fully defined diagnostic categories; and using PT results to compel practitioners to obtain retraining. Maryland believes its PT program not only is effective, efficient, and legally defensible but also meets the intended purpose and goals of the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendments of 1988. This paper reviews the technical and administrative aspects of Maryland's state-mandated PT program and compares its standards and methods to those mandated by the federal Health Care Financing Administration.
Subject(s)
Cytological Techniques/standards , Professional Competence/legislation & jurisprudence , State Government , Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. , Maryland , United StatesABSTRACT
In 1990, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provided proficiency-testing to seventy-three cytology laboratories, and 293 technical employees. Sixty-three of these labs, 132 of 154 pathologists, and 130 of 139 cytotechnologists passed without having to undergo retesting or retraining. Failing laboratories accounted for approximately 2 percent of the cervicovaginal slides diagnosed in 1989. Labs with the lowest passing rates were small ones operated by single pathologists not employing cytotechnologists. Eight pathologists either surrendered their state permit or were required to obtain additional training; no cytotechnologist required additional training.
Subject(s)
Cell Biology/standards , Cytological Techniques/standards , Licensure/legislation & jurisprudence , Cell Biology/legislation & jurisprudence , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Maryland , Pilot Projects , Vaginal Smears/standardsABSTRACT
Cytomorphologic features in pleural effusions obtained from two cases of endometriosis of the pleura are described. These young patients presented with recurrent right pneumothorax and hemorrhagic pleural effusions. In the pleural fluid specimens, recognition of endometrial epithelial cells, which generally occur in tissue fragments or singly, and of hemosiderin-laden histiocytic cells, which probably represent endometrial stromal elements, is considered essential to establishing such a diagnosis on a morphologic basis alone. A brief review of the literature is presented.
