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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
12:34
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
"Sip volume" as a quality indicator in liquid-based cervical cytology
Mark E Sherman1, Jessica Kahler, Karen S Gustafson
1Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20892-7374, USA. shermanm@mail.nih.gov
Cancer
|November 11, 2006
Summary
Sip volume in ThinPrep cervical screening can indicate specimen quality, with extreme volumes linked to low cellularity or uneven cell distribution. However, sip volume did not significantly impact cytology or HPV testing performance in this study.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Pathology
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Nonmicroscopic cervical screening methods allow for HPV testing or automated analysis of liquid-based cytology specimens before microscopic review.
- The volume of liquid-based cytology specimens (sip volume) used for ThinPrep preparation may serve as an indicator of specimen quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between sip volume and specimen quality indicators such as cellularity and cellular distribution.
- To determine the relationship between sip volume and clinical outcomes in cervical screening.
Main Methods:
- A stratified random sample of 505 enrollment ThinPreps from the Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance/Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Triage Study (ALTS) were analyzed.
- Masked assessments included cell counting and qualitative evaluations to assess slide cellularity and cellular distribution.
Main Results:
- Sip volumes varied significantly based on patient age, menstrual phase, and Chlamydia infection history.
- Low cellularity was associated with Atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (ASC-H) interpretations.
- Sip volumes correlated with cellularity and distribution; extremely low or high volumes were linked to lower cellularity and uneven cell deposition.
Conclusions:
- Extremely low sip volumes correlate with hypocellular specimens, and very low or high volumes with uneven cellular distribution.
- While sip volume did not generally affect cytology or HPV testing performance in the ALTS study, it may be relevant for other assays.
- Microscopic assessment of specimens with extreme sip volumes may be beneficial before nonmicroscopic testing.
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