Objective: A comparative study of liquid based cytology and conventional pap smear in cervical screening.

Material and Methods: 100samples of cervicovaginal smears prepared by standard conventional and LBC technique were interpreted as per Bethesda system of reporting cervico-vaginal smears. Smear were studied, compared and statistically analyzed. A pvalue < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Results: After conversion to LBC the percentage of unsatisfactory smear is decreased. The epithelial abnormalities found in CPS and LBC are in frequency of normal (7%), Chronic cervicitis and infection (44%), mild dysplasia and LSIL (20%), HSIL (23%), AGUS (1%), Ca Cervix (4%), Adenocarcinoma (8%). Inflammatory organisms were almost equally identified in both techniques.

Conclusion: Although a shorter screening time, cleaner background and decreased unsatisfactory smear are the major advantages of LBC, CPS is not inferior to LBC. The data suggests that there is increased detection rate of cervical pre cancerous lesions with LBC. The specificity of the two tests seems similar because of the fact that follow up of negative cases is unavailable.

Keywords: Conventional Pap smear; Liquid Based Cytology.