The use of percent volume analysis in Coulter sizing of cells in gynecologic cytopathologic cell suspensions.

The Coulter Counter model TA II was evaluated as a gynecologic cytodiagnostic tool. The instrument produces particle size histograms as plots of percent volume versus particle volume in 16 channels with each channel corresponding to twice the volume of the next lower channel. Cell volume distributions were obtained using cell suspensions from patients with cervicitis, inflammation, dysplasia or carcinoma and were compared with those from normal subjects. Although this method is superior to other methods of volume distribution analysis, it does not satisfy the stringent requirements of a cervical cancer mass screening method.