Quality management in gynecologic cytology using interlaboratory comparison.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a comprehensive integrated laboratory quality management plan for gynecologic cytology.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cytopathology laboratory performance monitors with interlaboratory comparison.

RESULTS

Utilizing College of American Pathologists Q-Probes studies, the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology, and other published data, a quality management program for gynecologic cytology involving diagnostic statistics, screening limits and competency assessment, retrospective rescreening, real-time rescreening, cytology-biopsy correlation, follow-up of patients with abnormal cytology results, turnaround time, examination of unknown slides (survey programs), and new technology is described.

CONCLUSION

Regular coordinated monitoring of performance, with longitudinal and interlaboratory comparison utilizing the methods described, provides an opportunity to optimize gynecologic cytology service.