Safety, efficacy and cost of three cervical cytology sampling devices in a prenatal clinic

To evaluate and compare the safety, efficacy and cost of three cervical cytology sampling devices in pregnant women presenting for prenatal care to the obstetrics clinic, at Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital.

From September 7, 1993, to November 5, 1993, 61 cervical cytologic smears were obtained using the Cell-Sweep. From November 8, 1993, to January 7, 1994, 66 smears were obtained using the Ayre spatula/Cytobrush, and from January 10, 1994, to February 18, 1994, 55 smears were obtained using the Ayre spatula/cotton swab. The rate of smears with no endocervical component or with epithelial cell abnormality was determined for each group. The patients' medical records were reviewed retrospectively to determine complications occurring within two weeks of smear collection.

Fifteen (25%) smears in the Cell-Sweep group, one (1.5%) in the Cytobrush group and nine (16%) in the cotton swab group were satisfactory but limited by absence of an endocervical component (P < .0006). None of the smears were unsatisfactory. Eleven (18%) smears in the Cell-Sweep group, eight (12%) in the Cytobrush group and nine (16%) in the cotton swab group revealed an epithelial cell abnormality (P = .643). For all three groups there was a low rate of spontaneous abortion, preterm spontaneous rupture of membranes or preterm labor occurring within two weeks of collection. There was no statistically significant difference in these complications between the three groups (P = .7). The Ayre spatula/cotton swab is the least expensive device.

The Ayre spatula/cotton swab was the most satisfactory of the three methods tested for obtaining cervical cytology during pregnancy. It is safe and cost-effective and identifies the same proportion of epithelial cell abnormalities as the Ayre spatula/Cytobrush and the Cell-Sweep.