Comparison of Cytology Preparation Methods (Thin-prep, Cytospin, Conventional Smears by Pull Apart Method) for Broncho-Alveolar Lavage Smears.
Introduction: In cytology we want to see the clear monolayer( cytomorphology) of the smear that comes from good cytoprepration. The Hitechnologist should avoid any poor preparatory technique resulting from the variation of the thickness of the smear which effects on the morphology of the sample. Conventional preparation,Thin-Prep and cytospin are three main methods for the preparations for BAL smears.
Thesis Statement: All of the three cytology preparation methods prepare the broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) smears but not equally accurate in term of the accuracy.
Main points: 1. Find the best method that reduces the background debris and cell overlapping.
2.Deacrase the consuming time for preparation
3.Deacrase the consuming time for screening.
Purpose of the study: to compare the conventional techniques (Pull apart method and cytospin) with the Thin-Prep in BAL to find the most accurate diagnosis, preparation time, screening time, and if we conceivably replace the conventional method by thin-prep.
Methods and Martials:
1.Thin Prep
2. Conventional Smears (pull apart)
3.Cytospin
4.Papanicolaou stain method
5.Timer
6.Centerfiuge
7. Microscope
Expected result:
The Thin prep is the most accurate and consumes less time.
Method
Sample Thin prep cytospin Conventional smear
1 58 Sec 49 Sec 1 min 50 sec
2 35 sec 39 sec 1min 45 sec
3 1 min 30 sec 27 sec 59 sec
4 2 min 15 sec 40 sec 5 min
5 1 min 44 sec 2 min 2 sec 1 min 38 sec
6 57 sec 1 min 16 sec 2 min 10 sec
7 1 min 25 sec 25 sec 1 min 40 sec
8 1 min 26 sec 12 sec 45 sec
9 51 sec 1 min 17 sec 1 min 26 sec
10 1 min 4 sec 35 sec 3 min
11 1 min 1 sec 22 sec 10 sec
12 52 sec 42 sec 48sec
13 50 sec 42 sec 10 sec
14 55 sec 36 sec 2 min
Total :
Percentage %
P Value
Standard deviation
TABLE .1 Showing the screening time of the three methods.
Method
Sample Thin prep Cytospin Conventional smear
1 1 3 3
2 1 3 3
3 3 3 3
4 2 3 3
5 3 3 3
6 1 3 2
7 1 1 3
8 3 2 3
9 3 2 3
10 3 1 3
11 3 3 1
12 3 3 3
13 2 3 1
14 3 3 1
Total
Percentage %
P value
Standard deviation
Table .2 Showing the comparison between the qualities of the three methods.
3 Good
2 Moderate
1 Poor
Method
Sample Thin prep Cytospin Conventional smear
1 12 min 47 sec 5 min 30 sec 11 min 30 sec
2 11 min 17 sec 4 min 40 sec 11 min 25 sec
3 11 min 20 sec 4 min 20 sec 11 min 20 sec
4 11 min 28 sec 6 min 11 min 26 sec
5 11 min 20 sec 5 min 40 sec 11 min 18 sec
6 12 min 43 sec 6 min 2 sec 10 min 40 sec
7 12 min 46 sec 6 min 6 sec 10 min 52 sec
8 12 min 48 sec 6 min 15 sec 10 min 45 sec
9 12 min 50 sec 6 min 10 sec 11 min
10 13 min 50 sec 5 min 30 sec 11 min 5 sec
11 13 min 13 sec 5 min 46 sec 11 min
12 12 min 25 sec 6 min 10 sec 11 min 1 sec
13 12 min 30 sec 4 min 45 sec 10 min 55 sec
14 12 min 45 sec 5 min 10 sec 10 min 58 sec
Total
Percentage %
P value
Standard deviation
Table.3 Time for preparation for each method

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