The challenge of quality improvement with the Papanicolaou smear

Quality improvement measures must be inherent in the management of all cytopathology laboratories. They are essential for quality patient care, are mandated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, are of particular focus in the updated College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program, section on Cytopathology, and are indispensable for risk management. Special areas of challenge include workload, Papanicolaou smear rescreening and review, and maintenance and use of laboratory statistics.