The development of a cervical smear preparation procedure from the BioPEPR image analysis system

The preparation procedure for the BioPEPR automated image analysis system is described. Cervical cells are collected in a preservative solution and disaggregated by an automated syringing apparatus, giving about 50% single cells. After centrifugation, the preservative solution is discarded, 2% polyethyleneglycol in 50% ethanol (carbowax) is added, and the cell solution is automatically spread onto a glass slide, resulting in a cell density of about 50 cells/sq mm in the central area of the smear. Increasing cell density is shown to lead to a gradual linear decrease in single cells. All preparation steps have been critically evaluated, and the possibility of implementing this preparation procedure in a fully automated system is discussed.