New cervical screening technique no better than conventional smear test

17 January 2006

Liquid-based cytology, a new cervical screening technique being introduced at great expense into programmes in the USA and UK, is no better than the conventional smear test, according to research published in the most recent issue of The Lancet.

A review of 56 studies by Dr Elizabeth Davey and colleagues from the University’s Screening and Test Evaluation Programme at the School of Public Health, conclude that there that liquid-based-cytology reduced the proportion of unsatisfactory slides or detected more high-grade lesions that the conventional technique.

For over 30 years, screening for cervical cancer has used the conventional Pap smear. Despite the limited accuracy of the test, the incidence of cervical cancer has fallen substantially. Liquid-based cytology has been developed as an alternative and has been reported to increase the sensitivity of smear tests and decrease the proportion of slides that are unsatisfactory for assessment.

Dr Davey said: ‘Although we did not find liquid-based cytology to be more accurate that conventional cytology, equivalent performance might be sufficient if liquid-based cytology has other advantages, such as the opportunity for concurrent HPV DNA testing, reduces reading times, or is more economical than conventional cytology.’

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Pictured: Liquid-based cytology has been developed as an alternative and has been reported to increase the sensitivity of smear tests and decrease the proportion of slides that are unsatisfactory for assessment.