Evaluation of the pulse wash sampling technique for screening of uterine cervical carcinoma

The efficacy of a new sampling technique performed for early detection of cervical carcinoma is compared with Pap smears with the swab-and-wooden spatula technique in 312 women. In this new method, sampling of cytologic material is achieved by using a pulse wash instrument described in a previous article. Cells are rinsed and detached by liquid jets of 0.2 mm in diameter which are produced by a spray nozzle connected with a pressure hose to a high pressure pump. The liquid molecules pass through the spray nozzle at a speed of 20 m/s thus creating a successful rinsing effect on cervical epithelium due to high kinetic energy. Rinsed cells are mixed with the small amount of the flushing liquid. The suspension of cells and liquid accumulated in the speculum is then transported to a small container by a suction pump. The results of this work suggest that the pulse wash technique gives a more representative cell sample than the Pap smear sampling technique, thus offering a simple method to decrease false negative diagnoses in the detection of carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Samples by the new technique give an abundance of cells for slide preparation for cytodiagnostic techniques as well as for additional cytochemical, immunocytochemical and microbiologic diagnostic techniques.