Abstract
To investigate the applicability of the Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain to the cytology of fluids and to compare it with other methods. Over a 30-month period, 528 unfixed fluids (462 serous effusions, 48 pelvic washings, 16 cyst fluids and 2 bile duct drain fluids) were mixed thoroughly and centrifuged. Two Swedish-style air-dried smears were made and stained with Diff-Quik (Mercedes Medical, Inc., Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A.) and Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain (Richard Allan Scientific, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A.), and the remaining sediment was fixed in CytoRich Red (TriPath Imaging, Inc., Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.), centrifuged onto a 17.5-mm circle with a Hettich cytocentrifuge and stained by the Papanicolaou method. For the 115 malignant fluids, Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain was the preferred method in the 94 non-hematopoietic malignant fluids, Diff-Quik was the preferred method in the 9 hematopoietic malignancies, and CytoRich Red was the preferred preparation in 8 bloody effusions containing rare cancer cells and 4 malignant pelvic washings. The diagnostic turnaround time of smears stained by Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain was < 15 minutes, fast enough for intraoperative consultations. It seems that Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain improves the resolution of cytoplasmic and nuclear details of nonhematopoietic cells in body fluids. However, to detect cancer in all types of fluids, Diff-Quik and CytoRich preparations are also required. We now examine three slides per fluid sample, one slide by each of the three techniques.
Published Version
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