Abstract:
This study was conducted at different health centers in Khartoum state,
during the period between June 2007 to March 2008. This study aims at the
evaluation of the effect of rehydration of air dried smear compared with
conventional wet prepared smears in cervical cytology. Also to
demonstrate the incidence of atypical cells among the studied group.
Fifty cervical smears were collected from women attending different
health centers. Smears were prepared using three different techniques;
conventional wet fixed pap stain, rehydration of air dried smear using
Normal saline post fixed by 95% ethanol and air dried methanol fixed
giemsa stain.
This study showed that there was no significant difference between
rehydrated air dried smears in which 18% showed excellent stain, 70%
showed good stain and 12% with poor stain and conventional wet prepared
smear in which 20% showed excellent stain, 70% showed good stain and
10% with poor stain. There was significant difference between rehydrated
air dried smear, conventional wet prepared smears versus air dried giemsa
stained smears in which 0% showed excellent stain, 54% showed good
stain and 46% with poor stain.
In this study the incidence of atypical cells was seen in the age group (45-
55 years), and among having low education level, also the incidence
increased in those of more to than six previous pregnancies. Also atypical
cells were detected in contraceptive pills users.
Further studies are recommended to confirm these findings, and to
implement this new procedure in non gynecological cytology.