OBJECTIVE: To compare the adequacy and efficacy of the liquid-based cytology tool Liqui-PREP (LP) with the conventional Papanicolaou smear (CS) test, for the screening of squamous cell abnormalities. METHODS: Data for 2,000 subjects screened with CS and 4,000 different subjects screened with the LP test were compared. RESULTS: LP showed significant decrease in the rate of unsatisfactory smears (P<0.01) and the detection rate for atypical squamous cells was significantly higher (P<0.01). The rate of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was also higher, but this did not reach statistical significance. The number of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions detected was increased with LP, and the histological correlation of LSIL lesions showed a higher positive-predictive value. The coexistence of abnormal colposcopic findings with abnormal smear results was higher for LP (P<0.004). Furthermore, high-risk HPV-DNA detection was found to be increased in atypical LP smears than in normal LP smears. CONCLUSIONS: The liquid-based cytology tool LP detected more squamous cell lesions than CS. Also it reduced the number of unsatisfactory results due to enhanced cell visualization, and improved screening for HPV-DNA.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the adequacy and efficacy of the liquid-based cytology tool Liqui-PREP (LP) with the conventional Papanicolaou smear (CS) test, for the screening of squamous cell abnormalities. METHODS: Data for 2,000 subjects screened with CS and 4,000 different subjects screened with the LP test were compared. RESULTS:LP showed significant decrease in the rate of unsatisfactory smears (P<0.01) and the detection rate for atypical squamous cells was significantly higher (P<0.01). The rate of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was also higher, but this did not reach statistical significance. The number of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions detected was increased with LP, and the histological correlation of LSIL lesions showed a higher positive-predictive value. The coexistence of abnormal colposcopic findings with abnormal smear results was higher for LP (P<0.004). Furthermore, high-risk HPV-DNA detection was found to be increased in atypical LP smears than in normal LP smears. CONCLUSIONS: The liquid-based cytology tool LP detected more squamous cell lesions than CS. Also it reduced the number of unsatisfactory results due to enhanced cell visualization, and improved screening for HPV-DNA.