Comparison of Cyto-Shuttle and cytocentrifuge as processing methods for nongynecologic cytology specimens.

The Cyto-Shuttle (Cancer Diagnostics, Inc., Fairfax, VA) monolayer preparation method was compared to our routine cytocentrifuge method in 129 fluid cytology cases. A single sample from each case was split and prepared by each method. The Cyto-Shuttle preparation was superior to the cytocentrifuge preparation in 51% of cases, equal to it in 38%, and inferior to it in 11%: bronchial wash/lavage (45 cases), 38%, 49%, 13%; body cavity fluid (39 cases), 72%, 15%, 13%; urine (18 cases), 56%, 44%, 0%: peritoneal washing (16 cases), 44%, 44%, 12%; and miscellaneous (11 cases), 36%, 55%, 9%. Cyto-Shuttle preparations were superior due to decreased background and increased number of cells per slide; fixation and morphology were generally equivalent to cytocentrifuge preparations.