Michael A Sass1. 1. Department of Pathology, Decatur Memorial Hospital, 2300 North Edward Street, Decatur, Illinois 62526, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the direct-to-vial efficacy of the SurePath Pap test (TriPath Imaging, Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) in a community hospital laboratory and to assess its impact on productivity, as measured by Pap test turnaround times (TATs). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 8,771 SurePath Pap tests were compared to 5,055 conventional Pap smears collected and processed over the same 12-month period. SurePath histologic correlation rates were compared to historical correlation rates for conventional Pap smears. Pap test TATs for 3 months prior to implementing SurePath were compared to TATs for the last 3 months of the study, which included an approximate 70:30 ratio of SurePath to conventional Pap tests. Laboratory staffing was unchanged, and mean monthly accessions were relatively constant. RESULTS: SurePath showed statistically significant improvements in the detection of low grade (LSIL) (196%) and high grade (HSIL) (243%) squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) relative to conventional Pap smears. The atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) rate remained nearly constant with SurePath, while the ASCUS/SIL ratio decreased by 68%. Unsatisfactory rates declined 81%. Histologic correlation rates with SurePath increased over those of conventional Pap smears. Pap test mean TATs improved 73% with SurePath. CONCLUSION: Sure-Path detected significantly more cases of LSIL and HSIL than conventional smears without compromising specificity. The ASCUS/SIL ratio and unsatisfactory rate declined dramatically. Pap test TATs also improved markedly with SurePath.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the direct-to-vial efficacy of the SurePath Pap test (TriPath Imaging, Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) in a community hospital laboratory and to assess its impact on productivity, as measured by Pap test turnaround times (TATs). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 8,771 SurePath Pap tests were compared to 5,055 conventional Pap smears collected and processed over the same 12-month period. SurePath histologic correlation rates were compared to historical correlation rates for conventional Pap smears. Pap test TATs for 3 months prior to implementing SurePath were compared to TATs for the last 3 months of the study, which included an approximate 70:30 ratio of SurePath to conventional Pap tests. Laboratory staffing was unchanged, and mean monthly accessions were relatively constant. RESULTS: SurePath showed statistically significant improvements in the detection of low grade (LSIL) (196%) and high grade (HSIL) (243%) squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) relative to conventional Pap smears. The atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) rate remained nearly constant with SurePath, while the ASCUS/SIL ratio decreased by 68%. Unsatisfactory rates declined 81%. Histologic correlation rates with SurePath increased over those of conventional Pap smears. Pap test mean TATs improved 73% with SurePath. CONCLUSION: Sure-Path detected significantly more cases of LSIL and HSIL than conventional smears without compromising specificity. The ASCUS/SIL ratio and unsatisfactory rate declined dramatically. Pap test TATs also improved markedly with SurePath.
Authors: Kirsten Rozemeijer; Corine Penning; Albert G Siebers; Steffie K Naber; Suzette M Matthijsse; Marjolein van Ballegooijen; Folkert J van Kemenade; Inge M C M de Kok Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2015-10-12 Impact factor: 2.506