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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Impact of liquid-based gynecologic cytology on an HIV-positive population
Sharon L Swierczynski1, Susan Lewis-Chambers, Jean R Anderson
1Departments of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neuroscience and Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Objective:
To examine the imprint of liquid-based technologies for cervicovaginal cytology on HIV-positive women, who are at high risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Study Design:
We performed a retrospective search of the cytopathology files of Johns Hopkins Hospital for the cervicovaginal cytology of HIV-positive women to examine the effect of liquid-based technology on this population.
Results:
Significant intraepithelial lesions (SILs) (low grade SIL or greater) were identified in 24% of the conventional smears and 23% of the liquid-based cytology. Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)/atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance was diagnosed in 15% of the conventional smears and 9% of the liquid-based preparations (P = .02). In patients with ASCUS diagnoses and tissue follow-up within 7 months, significant SILs were identified in 29% with conventional smears and in 65% with liquid-based cytology.
Conclusion:
There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of SILs between conventional smears and liquid-based cervicovaginal preparations in HIV-positive women. The diagnosis of ASCUS on liquid-based cytology may have an increased likelihood of representing a significant SIL in comparison to conventional smears. For the high-risk, HIV-positive population, immediate colposcopy and biopsy may be warranted following ASCUS diagnoses on liquid-based cytology.
