TABLE 1.
Comparison of Pap smear adequacy among subjects with and without cervical secretion collection prior to pap smear performance
| Adequacy criterion and classificationa | No. (%) of study group members
|
P valued | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretions not collectedb | Secretions collectedc | ||
| Transformation zone | 0.07 | ||
| Satisfactory | 100 (76.3) | 115 (84.2) | |
| Satisfactory but limited | 31 (23.7) | 20 (14.8) | |
| Inadequate | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Air-drying artifact | 0.46 | ||
| Satisfactory | 118 (90.1) | 115 (85.2) | |
| Satisfactory but limited | 12 (9.2) | 19 (14.1) | |
| Inadequate | 1 (0.7) | 1 (0.7) | |
| Obscuring blood | 0.14 | ||
| Satisfactory | 112 (85.5) | 103 (76.3) | |
| Satisfactory but limited | 17 (13.0) | 30 (22.2) | |
| Inadequate | 2 (1.5) | 2 (1.5) | |
| Scant cellularity | 0.54 | ||
| Satisfactory | 106 (80.9) | 116 (86.0) | |
| Satisfactory but limited | 24 (18.3) | 18 (13.3) | |
| Inadequate | 1 (0.8) | 1 (0.7) | |
| Obscuring inflammation | 0.29 | ||
| Satisfactory | 93 (71.0) | 107 (79.3) | |
| Satisfactory but limited | 37 (28.2) | 27 (20.0) | |
| Inadequate | 1 (0.8) | 1 (0.7) | |
a
Samples may be limited or inadequate by one or more criteria.
b
n = 131.
c
n = 135.
d
P values were obtained by using the Pearson chi-square test.