Rapid Cell Transfer by Means of Nylon Mesh to Improve Cellular Diagnosis: The Role of Immunocytochemistry

Abstract

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is an important ancillary technique in clinical cytology for not only identifying and characterizing tumor cells but also gaining prognostic or therapeutic information. Although cell blocks are often prepared for immunocytochemical evaluation of body cavity fluid and fine-needle aspiration specimens, they are not suitable for hypocellular samples. Liquid-based cytology can help prepare additional smears from residual cytological specimens. However, since conventional methods are used for nongynecological specimens in most laboratories, ICC is often limited by the number of cytological smears. Cell transfer methods permit to evaluate several immunocytochemical markers in a single cytological smear. Yet, these methods have some limitations; for example, they are time-consuming (about 3–40 h) and medium membranes with their attached cells are occasionally stretched or torn when peeled off the slides. Therefore, in an attempt to solve these problems, we developed a rapid and reliable cell transfer method using a nylon mesh. Our method requires no special equipment or reagent and can significantly reduce the turnaround time, as compared to previous methods.