Liquid-based cytology is a newer method of examining cervical cells for abnormalities, using a liquid preservative instead of a traditional Pap smear. It is more sensitive but can also result in more false positives. The process involves collecting cells with a spatula, placing them in a vial with a preservative, and centrifuging the sample to separate the cells for analysis. Liquid-based cytology has become more common since the 1990s, with some studies showing increased effectiveness in detecting cancer and other diseases.
Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is a method of preparing cervical cells for examination in the laboratory after a Pap smear. A Pap smear is a gynecological screening test used primarily to detect cancerous cells in the cervix, but it can also detect infections and other abnormalities. LBC is a new way to examine the sample taken from a Pap smear which is supposed to be more sensitive and therefore better, however, some studies show that with its higher sensitivity comes an increase in the number of false positives.
Traditional Pap smears are conducted by doctors who use a spatula to collect cervical cells for analysis. A small sample of cells is lightly scraped from the cervix, placed on a microscope slide, and sent to a laboratory for staining and analysis by a cytologist. Unlike a traditional Pap smear, where cells are placed directly onto a microscope slide, in liquid-based cytology the spatula head is peeled off and placed into a vial containing a liquid preservative. Most liquid-based cytology preservatives are ethanol-based.
The vial is then sent to the laboratory where the fluid is centrifuged to separate the cervical cells from the preservative and other materials collected by the spatula. A small sample of cervical cells is collected from the centrifuge and applied to a glass slide. The slide can then be stained and examined in the same way as a traditional Pap smear by a cytologist.
Liquid-based cytology has become increasingly common in hospitals and clinics since the 1990s. The centrifugation process results in clearer and more uniform samples that are easier for cytologists to analyze. This has also helped reduce the number of illegible or inconclusive tests, requiring fewer women to return to clinics for retesting. Liquid samples are also more suitable for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
Some studies also indicate that liquid-based cytology increases the sensitivity and specificity of cytology reports, making Pap smears more effective at detecting cancer and other diseases. Other studies claim that liquid-based cytology is no more effective than traditional Pap smears. Despite the debate among clinicians, liquid-based cytology remains common in many clinical laboratories.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
