Implementation of telecytology for immediate assessment of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirations compared to conventional on-site evaluation: analysis of 240 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the implementation of telecytology in an academic cytology service for immediate assessment of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endobronchoscopic ultrasound (EBUS) fine-needle aspiration (FNA).

STUDY DESIGN

Telecytology was evaluated over a 10-month period. Using an Olympus BX41(®) microscope and an Olympus DP72(®) camera with Olympus cellSens(®) software, real-time dynamic images of air-dried Diff-Quik(®)-stained smears were transmitted by a cytopathology fellow or cytotechnologist using a secure internet connection. The cytopathologists remotely accessed the real-time images on a computer in their office and rendered immediate assessments. Mean procedure times, and preliminary and final diagnoses were compared between telecytology and conventional on-site evaluation.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty consecutive EUS-FNA and EBUS-FNA procedures with immediate assessments were performed during the evaluation period, of which 158 (66%) utilized telecytology and 82 (34%) did not utilize telecytology. The mean procedure time required for cytotechnologists and cytology fellows was 1.1 h for both conventional on-site and telecytology evaluations. The mean procedure time for cytopathologists was 0.74 h for conventional on-site evaluations and 0.2 h for telecytology.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporation of telecytology for immediate assessment of EUS-FNA increased cytopathologist efficiency.

[The liquid cytology in clinical practice: a lecture]

The lecture covers one of the most perspective directions in clinical cytology. The emergence of liquid cytology is related to preparation of thin-layer specimens of organism liquids. Nowadays, the liquid cytology spreads more and more due to eephi application in different areas of cytological diagnostics, including screening of cervix uteri diseases, automatic screening, punctate tests, endoscopic and other materials. The lecture presents the basics of method, the characteristics of pre-analytic stage, the approaches to preparation of cytological specimens and cell blocks. The main possibilities, characteristics and perspectives of liquid cytology on the stage of rapid development of molecular genetic studies are discussed.

Detection of circulating tumor cells in advanced head and neck cancer using the CellSearch system

BACKGROUND

Early detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offers the possibility of improved outcome for patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

METHODS

Patients with advanced-stage HNSCC (stage III/IV) were tested for CTCs using the CellSearch system (a registered trade name), which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for monitoring CTCs in other cancers.

RESULTS

CTCs were detected in 6 of 15 patients with advanced-stage HNSCC (range, 1-2 cells/7.5 mL of blood). CTCs were significantly associated with patients with lung nodules >1 cm (p = .04). There was also a suggestion of improved survival in the CTC-negative versus the CTC-positive patients (p = .11).

CONCLUSIONS

CTCs can be successfully isolated in patients with advanced-stage HNSCC using the CellSearch system. CTC detection may be important for prognosis, evaluating treatment outcome, and for determining efficacy of adjuvant treatments.

Exfoliative cytology of the oral mucosa: comparison of two collection methods

This study compared the sampling efficacy of a cytobrush and metal spatula for exfoliative cytology of the oral mucosa. Thirty students with no detectable oral alterations upon clinical examination were submitted to exfoliative cytology of the lateral border of the tongue, using a metal spatula on the left side and a cytobrush on the right side. The smears were stained using the Papanicolaou technique and evaluated for cellularity, cell type, cell distribution, homogeneity, and cellular distortion, as well as the presence of mucus, inflammatory infiltrate, and hemorrhage. A statistical test (Z-test) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) showed a significant difference between the metal spatula and cytobrush in terms of cellularity (p = 0.02) and homogeneity (p = 0.01). No difference between the two methods was observed regarding cell type (p = 0.4, Z-test) or cell distribution for the 95% confidence interval (p = 0.2, Fisher's test). Cell distortion and the presence of mucus were observed in five cases that used the metal spatula and in two cases that used the cytobrush. No hemorrhage or inflammatory infiltrate was detected in any of the slides. Based on the results of this study, the cytobrush produced qualitatively better smears in terms of cellularity and homogeneity compared to the metal spatula.

[Evaluation of capability of cell count and detection of tumor cells in cerebrospinal and body fluids by automated hematology analyzer]

Sysmex XE-5000 offers the body fluid modus which provides the opportunity to count and differentiate leukocytes in body fluids and cerebrospinal fluid (CFS). In this study, we evaluated the basic performance of this application using routinely obtained samples in comparison with manual counting. Reproducibility study yielded good results in samples with a high white blood cell (WBC) count, whereas relatively high imprecision was observed at low WBC counts. Linearity was established up to 1,500 cells/microL in CFS and 5,600 cells/microL in body fluid. The cell count by XE-5000 was highly correlated with that of the microscopic reference method. Highly fluorescent body fluid cells percent (HF-BF%) was observed in samples with tumor cells or activated macrophages, which provides information about the possible presence of tumor cells. In conclusion, total and differential WBC counts in body fluid and CFS can be reliably determined by XE-5000 in samples with increased cell counts. XE-5000 also provides screening information about the presence of tumor cells for further manual examination.

Fast track biopsy method: a rapid approach to preoperative diagnoses

INTRODUCTION

It is well known that the use of a microwave oven greatly reduces the time for histoprocessing.

OBJECTIVE

Apply the microwave-based histoprocessing method "Fast Track Biopsy" (FTB), previously described for breast needle-core biopsies, to samples of other organs.

METHODS

From 01/09/2008 to 31/12/2008, 125 normal and neoplastic tissue samples (thickness from 0.2 and 1.2 cm) were collected, processed according to the FTB technique, stained with haematoxylin/eosin (H/E) and analysed with tissue-specific immunohistochemical (IHC) markers.

RESULTS

The quality of both H/E and IHC stained sections was comparable to that obtained with standard methods. Sample thickness less than 0.5 cm gave better results.

DISCUSSION

the FTB method is suitable for most tissue types, and is thus useful for preoperatory diagnoses.

Exploiting the residual of cervical thin layer brush samples through cytohistology in cases with invasive carcinoma with application of antibodies

OBJECTIVE

To exploit cervical thin layer brush samples through cytohistology in cases with invasive carcinoma with application of antibodies.

STUDY DESIGN

Fourteen cases from women with carcinoma diagnosed in 2006 were selected out of 29 invasive carcinomas. From these 14 cases liquid-based cervical cytology material was available to prepare cytohistology. Eight women had squamous cell carcinoma, 4 endocervical adenocarcinoma, 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma and 1 ovarian adenocarcinoma. The residual material from the thin layer sample, collected by brushes by general practitioners, was used to prepare paraffin sections. These were stained with the Papanicolaou method and for the biomarkers Ki-67 and p16 and, if desired, for differentiation markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen, vimentin, cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 20 to establish the immunoprofile of the carcinoma.

RESULTS

The morphologic details in the cancer nuclei in the paraffin sections were excellent, while in all cases the thin layer cytology slide contained thick epithelial fragments with blurred nuclei. In 5 of the 6 adenocarcinomas, the glandular architecture diagnostic of adenocarcinoma was visible in the cytohistology, which was highlighted in the biomarker stainings, particularly so in the Ki-67 sections. With the exception of endometrial adenocarcinoma, all p16(INK4a) stainings were positive, as they were in the ovarian adenocarcinoma case.

CONCLUSION

Cytohistology is an adjunct to routine cervical cytologic examination of thin layer samples, allowing an unequivocal and refined diagnosis.

Cytologic examination of hemorrhagic fluid by capillary centrifugation: a new technique

OBJECTIVE

To develop a simplified technique for processing hemorrhagic body fluids, allowing elimination of red blood cells (RBCs) to obtain tumor cell-rich cytosmears for accurate diagnosis of malignancy.

STUDY DESIGN

Hemorrhagic fluid is collected with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid anticoagulant. The cells are separated by centrifugation in glass capillaries into 3 layers, with the uppermost containing supernatant, middle buffy coat and lowermost dark layer of RBCs. The smears of the buffy coat are prepared by breaking the capillaries at the junction of buffy coat and RBC layer. The procedure is named capillary centrifugation technique. This procedure was developed in the cytology laboratory at King George's Medical College, Lucknow, India in 1974.

RESULTS

Cell yield is good and cellular details are well preserved. No cell debris is present on the slides. The background of the smears is absolutely clear. Any number of slides may be prepared for special study for exact typing of tumor cells

CONCLUSION

This is a simple, economical procedure and a good substitute for a cytocentrifuge machine for preparing smears from small amount of fluids. Technicians learn it quickly and are quite comfortable with the procedure.

Rapid detection and profiling of cancer cells in fine-needle aspirates

There is a growing need for fast, highly sensitive and quantitative technologies to detect and profile unaltered cells in biological samples. Technologies in current clinical use are often time consuming, expensive, or require considerable sample sizes. Here, we report a diagnostic magnetic resonance (DMR) sensor that combines a miniaturized NMR probe with targeted magnetic nanoparticles for detection and molecular profiling of cancer cells. The sensor measures the transverse relaxation rate of water molecules in biological samples in which target cells of interest are labeled with magnetic nanoparticles. We achieved remarkable sensitivity improvements over our prior DMR prototypes by synthesizing new nanoparticles with higher transverse relaxivity and by optimizing assay protocols. We detected as few as 2 cancer cells in 1-microL sample volumes of unprocessed fine-needle aspirates of tumors and profiled the expression of several cellular markers in <15 min.

[Automatization of microscopic blood smear analyses and quality control using reference virtual slides]

MEKOC microscopy complexes have a group of specialized automatic functions for medical analyses of biomaterials integrated with general virtual microscopy accessories. Such functions provide a way of making specialized reference virtual slides (RVS). The latter contain the results of virtual analysis or expert evidence of the automatic analysis results presented in the virtual slide. The use of RVS yields an open system with a step-by-step control of the quality of automatic operations. RVS as realistic preparation models are also used to train staff. The results of step-by-step trials of the MEKOC--2 are presented in the paper.

Utility of imprint cytology for early presumptive diagnosis in clinically suspicious cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine the utility of imprint cytology (IC) in providing an early presumptive diagnosis of clinically suspected cervical carcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 219 clinically suspicious cervical cancer cases underwent Pap test, punch biopsy and IC at the same sitting. Correlations were performed between these diagnostic modalities to determine the sensitivity and specificity of IC in diagnosis of cervical cancer.

RESULTS

The overall accuracy of IC in detecting cervical cancers was 96.2%. About 78% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 60% of adenocarcinomas and 100% of small cell carcinoma could be accurately typed on imprints. Twelve malignant lesions were diagnosed on IC among 26 unsatisfactory biopsies. Although there was no false positive result, 3.5% false negative diagnoses were given on IC. The sensitivity and specificity of imprint smear cytology to detect malignancy was 96.2% and 100%. Agreement between imprint cytology and Pap smear diagnosis of malignancy was 95.3%. kappa Statistics revealed excellent agreement between imprints and biopsies and between imprints and Pap smears in diagnosis of malignant lesions.

CONCLUSION

IC can be used as an adjunctive technique for an early and reliable preliminary presumptive diagnosis of cancer of the uterine cervix.

Increased sensitivity of anal cytology in evaluation of internal compared with external lesions

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of keratin on the accuracy of internal and external anal brush sampling of known lesions.

STUDY DESIGN

A group of 46 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients underwent external and internal anal brush sampling before biopsy of known lesions. RESULTS; A total of 92 ThinPrep (46 external, 46 internal) an 211 biopsies were examined. The sensitivity and specificity for internal lesions positive and negative for anal squa mous intraepithelial lesion (ASIL) was 91.1% and 42.8%, respectively; and for external lesions was 79.4% and 100%, respectively. Low cellularity on cytology and markedly thickened keratin on biopsy were significantly more common in external compared with internal lesions (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that hyperkeratosis interferes with adequate sampling and accurate grading of external anal lesions by brush sampling.

[The clinical significance and management of cervico-cytologically diagnosed ASCUS/LSIL]

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical significance and management of ASCUS/LSIL.

METHODS

254 patients who were examined with cervical cytology in the Cancer Institute and Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were ASCUS/LSIL, of whom 136 cases underwent colposcopy, Data were analyzed retrospectively according to the golden criterion of pathology outcome.

RESULTS

140 cases were ASCUS, and 114 cases were LSIL. Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) were diagnosed in 51.5% of patients with ASCUS, compared with 59.6% of patients with LSIL (P>0.05). High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were diagnosed in 22.9% of patients with ASCUS, compared with 30.7% of patients with LSIL (P >0.05). In the 136 patients examined with colposcopy, inflammation was found in 47 cases, low-grade intraepithelial lesion in 53 cases, High-grade intraepithelial lesion in 36 cases. The pathological results show inflammation in 55 cases, low-grade intraepithelial lesion in 41 cases, High-grade intraepithelial lesion in 40 cases (Kappa=0.314, U=0.064, P less than 0.05). CIN were diagnosed in 79% (67/84) of HPV-positive patients identified by pathology, compared with 43.5% (74/170) of HPV-negative patients (chi2=29.88 P less than 0.05). 83.5% of 254 patients were between 35 to 55 years old, and that was consistent with HPV-positive women age peak.

CONCLUSION

Patients with ASCUS should be paid the same attention with LSIL patients and colposcopy examination should be done immediately to avoid missed diagnosis and missed follow-up examination, especially for HPV positive patients between 35 to 55 years old.

The role of ThinPrep cytology in the investigation of SLN status in patients with cutaneous melanoma

INTRODUCTION

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in melanoma assesses reliably the status of the regional lymph node basins, provides valuable prognostic information, facilitates early therapeutic lymphadenectomy and identifies patients who are candidates for different adjuvant treatments. The current study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of cytological specimens being placed in PreservCyt as a practical collection methodology for performing evaluation of the SLN status in patients with melanomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2004 to December 2006, 70 patients with histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma underwent intraoperative FNA biopsy of the SLN. After identification of the SLN(s), FNA biopsy of the SLN was performed with a 0.6 mm (23 gauge) diameter needle. All the SLNs specimens were examined (using light microscopy 40 x and 200 x) by the same pathologist and cytopathologist, neither of had any knowledge of the medical history of the patient. The histological result of the excised SLN was considered as the final diagnosis.

RESULTS

The unsatisfactory rate for TP cytology was 2.17%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy (OA) for the TP technique were 92.31%, 100%, 100%, 97.06%, and 97.83%, respectively. Using TP cytology, there was greater intensity and distribution of the staining in comparison with immunohistochemistry.

DISCUSSION

The accuracy of TP technique in the evaluation of the SLN status is comparable to those of the histological evaluation, and could be of paramount importance for the preoperative planning of treatment.

Significance and possible causes of false-negative results of reflex human papillomavirus infection testing

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to assess the rate and possible reasons for false-negative (FN) reflex human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA tests.

METHODS

The authors reviewed all ThinPrep cervical specimens that were submitted for reflex HPV-DNA testing using the Digene Hybrid Capture II (HC2) method from January 2002 to January 2004. Follow-up biopsies were reviewed. The results were considered HPV-FN if the HPV-DNA test was negative and the biopsy was positive for grade > or =2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+), and the results were considered true positive (HPV-TP) if the HPV-DNA test was positive and the biopsy showed CIN2+. HPV-FN cases were compared with HPV-TP cases regarding the grade and extent of CIN, the number of abnormal cells on the original ThinPrep slide, and the presence of amplifiable, viral DNA on biopsy.

RESULTS

In total, 1520 (66%) of 2309 patients who had diagnoses of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) were negative for HPV DNA and 789 patients of 2309 patients (34%) were positive for HPV DNA. Three hundred sixteen women (40%) who had a positive HPV-DNA test underwent a biopsy. Of those, 36 biopsies (11%) showed CIN2+ (HPV-TP), and 154 biopsies (66%) showed CIN1. Cervical tissue was available for review from 82 women who had negative HPV-DNA tests; of these, 6 tissue samples (7%) showed CIN2+ (HPV-FN), and 13 tissue samples (16%) showed CIN1. Therefore, in the total ASCUS population that was triaged with reflex HPV testing, there were at least 42 women who were diagnosed with CIN2+, for an estimated CIN2+ FN fraction of 14% (6 of 42 women). HPV-FN lesions were smaller (but the difference was not statistically significant) and shed significantly fewer abnormal cells than HPV-TP cases. Polymerase chain reaction testing for viral DNA in the biopsy was detected in 3 of 6 women who had HPV-FN results; none of those positive results demonstrated a viral type that was not included in the Digene probes.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the rate of FN high-grade lesions was significantly higher than that reported in the ASCUS/Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Triage trial, most missed lesions were small and shed few abnormal cells. It was assumed that those lesions were either in early stages or in regressing stages, which made their clinical significance uncertain.

Safety and efficacy of cytology brushings versus standard FNA in evaluating cystic lesions of the pancreas: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas (CNLP) are increasingly detected and are associated with a potential for malignant transformation. Diagnostic assessment of these lesions is often limited by the cystic nature and focality of neoplastic progression of these lesions. EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) of cyst fluid and exfoliated cells is one of the most accurate methods of diagnosis but still has limited sensitivity. A new, through-the-needle cytologic brush system has recently been approved for use during EUS evaluation of cystic lesions of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cytologic yield and safety profile of the new cytobrush compared with conventional FNA in evaluating CNLP.

DESIGN

Ten consecutive patients with CNLP were included. All cysts were sampled by standard EUS-FNA (0.5 of cyst volume) followed by brush cytology, then by aspiration of the remaining fluid. Fluid samples were separately submitted (standard FNA and cytobrushings FNA) but were read by the same pathologist. Complications were assessed during the immediate postprocedure period (2-3 hours) and by a telephone call conducted approximately 30 days after the procedure to inquire about any new symptoms, including abdominal pain, melena, hematochezia, hematemesis, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

SETTING

High-volume EUS referral center.

PATIENTS

Ten consecutive patients with CNLP that measured at least 20 mm in maximal dimension were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Cellularity and presence of diagnostic cells on the FNA.

RESULTS

In 7 of 10 cases, the EchoBrush specimen was superior to FNA in terms of cellularity and detection of diagnostic cells. Two cases had complications: 1 major and 1 minor intracystic bleed. No infection or pancreatitis was observed.

LIMITATIONS

The interpreting pathologist for the case was not blinded to the results of either of the samples. In addition, this pilot study represents only a single-center experience.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that brush cytology specimens obtained at the time of EUS are superior to conventional FNA because of the higher yield of epithelial cells. It is unclear whether bleeding is more common after EchoBrush sampling; however, caution should be taken in patients who require anticoagulation until further data are available.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization of ductal lavage samples identifies malignant phenotypes from cytologically normal cells in women with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Ductal lavage (DL) does not routinely identify cytologically malignant cells. For this study, the authors asked whether molecular analyses of DL specimens from women with cancer would identify abnormal cells, even if they appeared cytologically normal.

METHODS

DL was performed and yielded fluid in 29 of 45 consenting women who were undergoing breast cancer surgery. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed on the corresponding tumor tissue from 14 women. There was no single, common alteration; thus, bacterial artificial chromosome-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes were selected based on CGH alterations.

RESULTS

FISH copy number changes were detected in tumor sections in 9 women. In the corresponding 9 DL samples, 1 sample was clearly malignant on cytology, 1 showed marked atypia, 1 showed mild atypia, and the rest were benign. Five of the 9 DL samples had epithelial cells that showed genetic changes identical to those observed in the tumor by FISH. The remaining 4 of 9 DL samples that did not show molecular changes were probably (N = 1) or possibly (N = 3) from the same duct as the tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Although only 11% of the DL samples were identified as malignant cytologically, 55% showed molecular changes that were identical to those observed in the tumor. FISH was more sensitive for finding tumor in DL specimens than cytology. However, the ductal system in which the tumor was located did not always yield fluid, limiting the sensitivity of DL. The results from this study showed that genetic changes can be detected in the absence of morphologic changes in cytologically benign cells, but the application will be limited without a better approach for acquiring cells and a common set of probes for detecting molecular abnormalities that are found in breast malignancies.

Ontology-based lymphocyte population description using mathematical morphology on colour blood images

Despite modern technologies (immunophenotyping, molecular probing, etc.) cytomorphologic examination of stained peripheral blood smears by microscopy remains the main way of diagnosis in a large variety of diseases (e.g. leukaemic disorders). Using tools from mathematical morphology for processing peripheral blood colour images, we have developed an image-based approach, to provide an objective and understandable description of lymphocyte populations according to a specifically designed ontology. This ontology-based framework needs a conceptualisation of the problem from a morphological viewpoint, the introduction of an adapted language, the generation of representative image databases, the development of image processing and data classification algorithms to automate the procedure and the validation of the system by human expertise. In this paper we present the main concepts, algorithms and some results to illustrate the high-performance of the approach. The aim of our work is to reconcile the automatisation with the medical expertise, so that they can reinforce each other.

Development of an automated malaria discriminant factor using VCS technology

Malaria diagnosis presents a challenge to all laboratories. There is a need for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective screening on all samples, particularly in areas where malaria is endemic. Response to malaria infection involves an increased monocyte count and production of large activated monocytes. These changes can be detected by volume, conductivity, and scatter (VCS) technology on certain automated blood cell counters (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL). The SD of the volume of lymphocytes and monocytes demonstrates a significant difference from normal when malaria is present. By using a calculation derived from the SD volume of the lymphocytes and monocytes, herein termed the malaria factor, sensitivity of 98% and specificity 94% were demonstrated for the detection of malaria. Based on this derived discriminant, VCS technology should become a useful tool in the detection of malaria. A flag to indicate the potential presence of malaria could then be generated by the instrument if the user or manufacturer chose to do so.

Evaluation of static telepathology in veterinary diagnostic cytology

BACKGROUND

Telepathology is the process of diagnostic pathology performed on digital images viewed on a display screen rather than by conventional light microscopy with glass slides. At present, electronic mail (e-mail) attachment is the most common communication medium for telepathology, because it is relatively simple and incurs minimal cost.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to test whether telediagnosis through Internet e-mail could be applied to veterinary diagnostic cytology.

METHODS

Using 20 cytology cases, on which a consensus diagnosis was reached by 3 experienced pathologists, a total of 130 images were digitized and sent as e-mail attachments from the Unit of Anatomic Pathology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Naples to the Unit of Pathology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Messina, Italy. The images were reviewed at the Unit of Pathology of Messina, where the consulting pathologist formulated his diagnoses by visualizing the images on the monitor of a computer. The telediagnoses were compared with the consensus diagnoses and with the consulting pathologist's interpretation using conventional light microscopy at a later date.

RESULTS

The median time to capture images was approximately 30 minutes for each case. The median time to make a telecytodiagnosis was a few seconds for each case. Overall, there was good agreement (85%) between the consensus diagnosis and the consultant's telediagnosis. In 100% of the cases there was agreement between the consulting pathologist's telediagnosis and conventional glass slide diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Telepathology by e-mail provides acceptable efficacy and a faster turnaround time than post and can be applied to veterinary diagnostic cytology.

An evaluation of ThinPrep UroCyte filters for the preparation of slides for fluorescence in situ hybridization

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of ThinPrep UroCyte filters, which were designed specifically for the preparation of slides for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of urine specimens. One hundred urine specimens were evenly split, and one portion was utilized to prepare a slide with the UroCyte filter method and the other portion was used to prepare a slide with a manual dropping method. All 17 of the 100 specimens identified as positive by the manual method were also identified as positive with the UroCyte method. No significant differences were noted in the percentage of chromosomally abnormal cells (P = 0.227), cellularity (P = 0.857), signal quality (P = 0.816), and DAPI counterstain quality (P = 0.369) between the two methodologies. The average time taken to prepare a batch of 10 slides using the UroCyte method, and that using manual method was 103 min (10.3 min/case) and 194 min (19.4 min/case), respectively. This study suggests that the UroCyte filter method of preparing slides for FISH analysis reduces the time required to prepare these slides with overall results that are similar to the currently utilized manual dropping method.

[An automated microscopy system MECOS-Ts2 and its trial use for blood and bone-marrow smear analysis]

Disadvantages of conventional procedures for testing of medical automated microscopy systems are considered. A testing procedure based on step-by-step testing of the system units is suggested. The procedure makes use of remote data analysis through communication lines. The structure of MECOS-Ts2 automated microscopy system and the procedure for its testing are considered.