BMJ  2003;327:161-162 (19 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7407.161-b

Letter

Cervical cancer screening

Liquid based cytology is successful

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The results of Coste et al should be interpreted with some caution.1 They raise questions about the validity of such a small group of 2585 and of split sampling. An analysis is required on the amount of training of smear takers, laboratory staff, and cytopathologists. The contrast in appearance between conventional smears and thin layer slides will make it difficult to eliminate bias.

In Lothian 15 practices, which include areas of highest urban deprivation, are now in their fourth year of using ThinPrep samples as part of the routine cervical smear programme. The table shows the results.


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  		Results of using ThinPrep samples as part of routine cervical smear programme in 15 practices in Lothian

 

Eighty per cent of Lothian's practices have had to continue to use conventional slide cytology, and their results continue to match the "before" data for the 15 practices. Pathology at colposcopy, which like cytology . . . [Full text of this article]

Michael W Whitley, general practitioner

Moira Park Surgery, Edinburgh EH7 6RU mwhitley@moirapark.co.uk


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Relevant Article

Cross sectional study of conventional cervical smear, monolayer cytology, and human papillomavirus DNA testing for cervical cancer screening
Joël Coste, Béatrix Cochand-Priollet, Patricia de Cremoux, Catherine Le Galès, Isabelle Cartier, Vincent Molinié, Sylvain Labbé, Marie-Cécile Vacher-Lavenu, and Philippe Vielh
BMJ 2003 326: 733. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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