Direct-to-vial comparison of a new liquid-based cytology system, Liqui-PREP™ versus the conventional pap smear

The objective of the study was to assess the clinical utility of a liquid-based cytology system on cervicovaginal screening it? a clinical commercial laboratory. Twenty-six thousand, one hundred and seventy eight cervicovaginal specimens were prepared by the Liqui-PREP (TM) (LGM International Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL) with a direct-to-vial comparison to 218,548 cases of the conventional direct smear front August 2005 through December 2005. Biopsy data was obtained to confirm the sensitivity for each method. Liqui-PREP (TM) showed a marked increase in HSIL+ detection compared to the conventional smear (P = 0.001). The rate of LSIL and AGC detection was higher with Liqui-PREPTm (P = 0.001 for both). The percentage of ASCUS specimens was higher than with conventional smear due to cleaner slides and easier detection of suspicious cells. The WNL rate was lower for LiquiPREPTM (P = 0.001) consistent with increased HSIL+ and ASCUS. The unsatisfactory rate was lower for Liqui-PREPTm (P = 0.017). The histological predictive value of Liqui-PREP (TM) was slightly higher than the conventional smear (94.1% versus 89.9%). The Liqui-PREP (TM) system similar to other reported LBC technologies shows an increased detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions, and gives higher-quality slides for interpretation than the conventional smear. Histological results confirm that this increase in cytological findings are clinically significant. LGM's new LBC technology is a more sensitive screening tool when compared with the conventional smear.