Laboratory Standards

These standards are developed by the CCPP Cytology Subcommittee and approved by the CCPP Management Committee to ensure consistency, accuracy and quality across the seven hospital laboratories in Nova Scotia that screen Pap smears.

•Unsatisfactory rate – Acceptable range: 0.2% - 1.0%
     o  # Unsatisfactory smears
        Total # of gynecological smears    X 100
•Abnormal rate – Acceptable range: 4% - 6%
     o # Abnormals
        Total # of gynecological smears    X 100
     o Ratio of     (ASCUS & ASC-H)      =     2-3
                                        SIL                             1
     oVariation between labs may be based on population differences.
     oVariance from historic rates will be monitored.
•False negative rate – Acceptable range: To be determined
•Laboratory turnaround time – Acceptable range: 2-4 weeks for routine specimens
     oTurnaround time = specimen collection date to lab sign-out date

Colposcopy Treatment Success

•LEEP (loop electrocautery excisional procedure) – Threshold for success: 2 s.d.
(standard deviations) below the mean
    o LEEP specimens diagnosed as CIN1, CIN2 or CIN3 compared with post-treatment
       Pap and/or tissue diagnosis within 12 months post-treatment