ASSESSMENT OF PAP SMEAR QUALITY BY AYRE'S SPATULA VERSUS AYRE'S SPATULA PLUS CYTOBRUSH COMBINATION - ANALYSISINATERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is a very important screening tool for cervical cancer. The challenge for Pap smear is a high rate of false-negative results. Of the several factors compounding this problem the most important one is the incorrect sampling method and sampling tool limitations. We in the present study tried to evaluate the quality of Pap smear samples obtained by two methods Ayres Spatula and Ayres spatula plus cytobrush combination. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and gynecology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunoor, Karimnagar. The patients were selected from those who were attending the OPD of the Department of gynecology. A total of n=155 women who were sexually active in reproductive age or menopausal were included in the study. Two samples were taken first using Ayres spatula and then the cytobrush. Results: With cytobrush and Ayres spatula n=135(87.09%) of smear were satisfactory compared to the n=98(63.22%) with Ayres spatula alone the p values were found the