Context: Cervical carcinoma is the fourth common malignancy in women worldwide and second most common in developing countries including India. Cytological screening leads to a reduction in the rate of invasive cancer of uterine cervix. The present study highlights the importance of cytospin method of liquid based cytology which improves the efficacy of Papanicolaou smears. Objectives: To compare efficacy of cytospin Papanicolaou smears with conventional Papanicolaou Smears in cervical cancer screening based on Bethesda system of classification, 2014. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of cervical cytology of 134 samples was carried out on women from age group of 18-65 years. Using Ayre’s spatula one slide was prepared and immediately fixed in fixative. The residual material was rinsed in fixative then spun in cytospin to obtain direct smear. Both conventional and cytospin smears were stained by Papanicolaou stain. Results: Of the 134 cervical cytospin smears studied, 87.9% (118 cases) were non-neoplastic, 9.6% (13 cases) were neoplastic lesions and 2.2% (3 cases) were unsatisfactory. The most common neoplastic lesion was LSIL and HSIL accounting for 3% (4 cases) each followed by ASCUS, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Cytospin showed significant difference in the morphological features compared to conventional. Conclusion: Cytospin method of liquid based cytology is recommended as it improves the sample quality, morphology and also cost effective. It is an alternative screening method in low resource settings, like developing countries including India where women are at high risk for developing cervical cancer.

Keywords: Cervical Carcinoma; Conventional Pap Smear; Cytospin Pap Smear; Liquid Based Cytology.