[Histonet] Cap PAP Smears Controls

[Joe W. Walker, Jr.]

HI Mary Ann,

If you are referring to the Pap stain for Pap tests or for Non-Gyn specimens including FNA, you will need to verify daily that the technical quality of the slides.  This evaluation should include any preparation for the day, including liquid based, cytospins, direct smears, and cell blocks.  The slides should be evaluated to ensure the presentation of the cells, including the staining characteristics are appropriate for the nuclei and cytoplasm of the cells in question.  In our lab, we evaluate a slide from each staining run.  If we run only Pap tests, then a slide is randomly pulled from the run and evaluated. For non-gyn specimens, we apply the same technique if those specimens types were run on any day.  For non-gyn specimens, we also evaluate the Romanowsky stained slides.

As a CAP inspector, I have also observed labs who utilize a buckle smear for direct smear preps and also for liquid based preps.  They will run them through the stains to ensure that they work as expected before staining patient specimens. I don't think there is one correct way to perform this evaluation but the key is to make sure that you are evaluating each type of prep and the stain that you perform in your lab each day.  

Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP) 
Anatomical Pathology Manager
Rutland Regional Medical Center
160 Allen Street, Rutland, VT 05701
P 802.747.1790  F 802.747.6525
joewalker at rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Ann via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2018 12:52 PM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Cap PAP Smears Controls

Hello,

In preparing for CAP I have a question:
Does anyone run a positive PAP control with their run?

Sent from my iPhone

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