Flow cytofluorimetry in routine diagnostic cytology. A pilot study.

A simple procedure for disrupting cell clumps may aid in the automation of gynecologic cytology by flow cytofluorimetry. Such a procedure, using enzymatic digestion and fluorescent staining, was applied to aliquots of 264 gynecologic exfoliative specimens. Results were compared with cytopathologic diagnoses. A fluorimetric criterion of hypertetraploidy was used to detect abnormality. One quarter of the specimens fulfilled this criterion, including 15 of 17 specimens rated cytologically as premalignant. Two thirds of the falsely abnormal results were attributable to aggregated microorganisms, glandular clumps, and pusbound clumps.