An audit of inadequate cervical cytology in a genitourinary medicine clinic

The taking of inadequate cervical cytological smears leads to patient anxiety, an increased burden on medical and laboratory staff and potentially misses cervical abnormalities. It has been suggested that screening programmes should collect information about the proportion of smears considered unfit for diagnostic purposes. We present an audit of the rate of inadequate smears in our unit and the factors contributing to their taking. The largest single factor in the taking of inadequate smears was the individual performing the test. Measures have been introduced to retrain these staff whilst an ongoing programme of training and evaluation has been implemented for all staff.