Enhancing the Performance of the AutoPap 300 QC System with Optimal Staining and Presentation of Cervical Smears

Determining the Utility and Effectiveness of the NeoPath AutoPap 300 QC System Used Routinely

“…The random QC slides are selected blindly by our laboratory computer system. In contrast, all routine, laboratory-processed negative gynecologic smears from non-high-risk women can be processed by the AutoPap 300 QC System (AP 300) (NeoPath Inc., Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.), a noninteractive, automated rescreening system that examines conventionally prepared cervical cytologic smears [6][7][8] and that then selects slides for QC rescreening by scoring and ranking the slides on the basis of a complex set of algorithms designed to detect abnormal cytologic features. 6 The slides selected by the AP 300 for QC review should be those most likely to contain abnormal cells.…”

A feasibility study of the use of the AutoPap screening system as a primary screening and location-guided rescreening device

“…This may depend in part on the high rate of smears classified as PR in the current experience that may have been due to the suboptimal quality of processed smears (bubbles, cover slides, and staining). An attempt to improve smear processing quality and to adjust the system tolerance to smear processing artifacts was done during the study; and, in the final period of the study, the PR rate was reduced to 10%, an improved (although still high) value compared with other experiences 8. Because of the progressive reduction in the PR rate, the NFR rate had increased by the end of the study, although only to 20%.…”

“…In total, 14,145 consecutive smears from the Florence screening program were considered for the study. Smears were processed first with the AutoPap system according to manufacturer recommendations 8. Smears were classified by the system according to three different categories: 1) no further review (NFR) (slides with a low probability of abnormality), 2) review (smears with a greater likelihood of abnormality), and 3) process review (PR) (smears that failed processing).…”

AutoPap 300 QC System Scoring of Cervical Smears Without “Epithelial Cell Abnormalities”

“…We previously described the scanning and scoring rates observed in a clinical evaluation study of a large cohort of cases. 6 The QC score represents an aggregate measurement of numerous measured cytologic parameters and ranges from 0 to 1. If a large number of potentially abnormal cells are detected by the object classification module of the AutoPap 300 QC System, a QC score of 1 will be assigned to the slide.…”