Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Cell Block Preparation from Cytology Specimen with Predominance of Individually Scattered Cells
Published on: July 21, 2009
A randomised comparison of SurePath liquid-based cytology and conventional smear cytology in a colposcopy clinic
P H Sykes1, D Y Harker, A Miller
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. peter.sykes@otago.ac.nz
Objective:
The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity of cervical cytology using conventional smears and SurePath liquid-based cytology (LBC).
Design:
Prospective randomised evaluation of diagnostic test.
Setting:
A single institution colposcopy clinic.
Population:
Women attending first visit colposcopy appointments were offered entry into the study.
Methods:
Cervical cytology samples from 913 women of age 16-75 years were randomly processed as SurePath LBC or conventional smears. Conventional smears were taken for 453 women and a SurePath LBC taken for 451 women. Cytology results were correlated with colposcopic findings and histology from colposcopic biopsies, treatment and follow up.
Main Outcome Measures:
To compare the sensitivity of SurePath LBC and conventional smears for histologically proven abnormality. Other outcome measures include a comparison of their sensitivity for high-grade abnormalities and their satisfactory rate.
Results:
Accounting for all randomised samples, there was a trend towards improved sensitivity for SurePath LBC (79.1 versus 73.7%, P = 0.1). However, excluding unsatisfactory cytology (and samples not taken) eliminated this trend; the sensitivity for both LBC and conventional smears for any epithelial abnormality was 81%. With a threshold of atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASC-US), both SurePath LBC and conventional smears had a sensitivity of 92% for high-grade lesions. SurePath LBC was less likely to be reported as unsatisfactory (2.7 versus 9.1%, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
In this context, with a threshold of ASC-US, both SurePath LBC and conventional smears offer high sensitivity for the detection of CIN2/3, but SurePath LBC is less likely to be reported as unsatisfactory.
