By: Mej Amm M.

Batoon
MHAM College of Medicine
• Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is an alternative
method of collecting a cervical smear for
examination in the cytology laboratory.
• Introduced by NHS to minimise the number of
smear tests that are unsuitable for testing.
• Reduce number of inadequate slides from 9%
to 1-2%
• Reduce repeat testing
• Reduce anxiety in women
• Reduce laboratory workload with average
duration of microscopic interpretation
reduced to 30%
• Allow testing for HPV, gonorrhoea and
Chlamydia
• LBC is expensive in terms of equipment,
capital costs, maintenance, consumables,
training, technical preparation time,
transportation and disposal of liquid media.
• The performances of these tests are similar
for identifying high-grade squamous lesions
with the potential to develop into cancer.
• Low-grade lesions and atypical squamous or
glandular cells are better detected by the
liquid-based technique
 References:
1. Arbyn M, Bergeron C, Klinkhamer P, Martin-Hirsch P, Siebers AG, Bulten
J. Liquid compared with conventional cervical cytology: a systematic
review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 2008;111:167-177.
2. Sulik SM, Kroeger K, Schultz JK, Brown JL, Becker LA, Grant WD. Are
fluid-based cytologies superior to the conventional Papanicolaou test? A
systematic review. J Fam Pract. Dec 2001;50(12):1040-6. 
3. Davey E, Barratt A, Irwig L, Chan SF, Macaskill P, Mannes P. Effect of
study design and quality on unsatisfactory rates, cytology classifications,
and accuracy in liquid-based versus conventional cervical cytology: a
systematic review. Lancet. Jan 14 2006;367(9505):122-32. 
4. Arbyn M, Bergeron C, Klinkhamer P, Martin-Hirsch P, Siebers AG, Bulten
J. Liquid compared with conventional cervical cytology: a systematic
review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. Jan 2008;111(1):167-77.