[Use of phase-contrast and interference-contrast microscopy for immediate cytological tests in gynaecological...

Vital cytological tests of cervical smears obtained from 1,083 patients in a gynaecological practice are reported. The smears had been taken in search for malignant changes, in addition to the need for appraisals of ovarian function and vaginal flora. Smears which produced suspicious colposcopic and vital cytological findings were restained by means of Papanicolaou stain. The diagnoses based on both methods were compared. The results have confirmed the vital cytological technique to be extremely suitable for functional and flora diagnosis, while the Papanicolaou method was found to be superior to vital cytology in cancer screening.