Evaluation and application of Cellprep for cervical cytology

Objective : This study was conducted to evaluate the cellular morphologies in specimens prepared using Cellprep Plus® (a liquid-based cytological adaptation of the filter-transfer method by using wind pressure).Study Design : The study cohort comprised 223 patients who were followed up from March 2014 to June 2015 for cervical lesions. The cervical lesions were evaluated in cytological specimens prepared by the conventional method and those prepared by the Cellprep method. The cellular morphologies in the Cellprep Plus® specimens were compared with those in the conventional smear specimens.Results : The smear background of inflammatory cells, necrotic debris, pathogens, and/or mucus was maintained in the Cellprep Plus® specimens. There were no evident differences in the cellular sizes or shapes between the Cellprep Plus® and conventional smear specimens. Although large clusters of epithelial cells were deformed in the Cellprep Plus® specimens, the morphological criteria for differentiating between “negative” and “positive” cases remained the same as those used in the conventional smear specimens. The sensitivity of the Cellprep Plus® method for detecting intraepithelial lesions was significantly higher than that of the conventional smear method ; however, no significant difference in the specificity, negative predictive value or positive predictive value was found between the two methods.Conclusion : The Cellprep Plus® method should be considered as a suitable alternative to the conventional smear method for preparation of specimens for cytology.