Cancer Cytology
Quality Assurance Procedures
To assure valid examinations and Pap reports, the Cytology Branch employs a number of Quality Assurance Procedures.
- Staff members are registered Cytotechnologists trained in examination of ThinPrep slides.
- Equipment, instruments, reagents, and stains are monitored daily.
- Senior Cytotechnologists randomly rescreen 10% of all negatives.
- The diagnostic trends of each individual Cytotechnologist are statistically monitored.
- The Chief Cytotechnologist works individually with a Cytotechnologist when Quality Control procedures indicate the need.
- All cellular changes suggestive of repair, atypia, HPV, dysplasia and more severe findings are referred for Pathologist confirmation and sign out.
- All previous smears reported as negative on a patient are rescreened when the current Pap has changes suggestive of HGSIL (High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion).
- Cytology reports are correlated with clinical and surgical follow-up reports (DHHS form #1011). When pathology and cytology reports differ, the smears are reviewed.
- Continuing Education seminars are conducted to keep staff informed of new developments in Cytology and to review difficult or unusual cases. Cytotechnologists participate in ASCP cytology teleconferences and keep up with new devolpments in the field on Internet cytology sites. Cytotechnologists are encouraged to attend local, state and (as resources permit) national Cytology meetings.
- Cytology staff participates in ASCP (MIME) Proficiency Testing.
- Quality Assurance Committee and Unit meetings are held monthly.
See also:
- Pap Test Statistics
- Quality Assurance
- Specimen Collection
- Reporting
- F.A.Q.s
- Publication:
- Cytology SCOPE (PDF, 18 KB)
- Pap Test Screening: A Guide for Health Departments (PDF, 5.45 MB)
- Tips on Submitting ThinPrep Tests (Printable Version, PDF, 9 KB)
Last Modified: October 14, 2008 11:31 AM