Liquid based cytology, or LBC (Liquid Based Cytology), is a test that - just like conventional cytology - allows you to detect abnormal changes in the cervix. However, liquid cytology is much more accurate than cytology, thanks to which it can detect any abnormalities even twice as high, e.g. cervical cancer - even in its early stages. Check what is cytology on a liquid basis.

Liquid based cytologyor LBC (Liquid Based Cytology), also known asthin layer cytologyorcytology single-layer , is - similarly to standard cytology - diagnostic microscopic examination of cells taken from the vaginal mucosa. However, liquid cytology is much more accurate than the classical one. Traditional cytology has a sensitivity of 60%, which means that 4 out of 10 women do not detect abnormal cells in the cervix. Liquid cytology has up to two times higher detection of abnormal cells in the cervix.

Cytology on a liquid medium - indications

Indications for liquid cytology are the same as for traditional cytology. This means that the test should be performed primarily by women who are infected with high-risk HPV and those who have been treated in the past for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer.

Cytology on a liquid medium - contraindications

The test should not be performed during the period. They can be performed at the earliest 4 days after the end of menstruation and at the latest 4 days before the expected menstruation. It is best to do the test between the 10th and 20th day of the menstrual cycle.

Cytology on a liquid basis - how to prepare for the test?

You should report for liquid cytology before gynecological, ultrasound, bacteriological (culture) or virological examination from the vagina and / or the cervical canal. 4 days before the examination, you can not rinse the vagina, take vaginal medications and tampons. You should not have sex at least 24 hours before the examination.

Cytology on a liquid basis - what is it?

In classical cytology, a cervical swab is taken directly onto amicroscope slide.

In liquid cytology, a smear is taken from the cervix with a cytological brush, the tip of which is transferred directly to a container with a special liquid (it prevents damage and allows the cells to be retained from the vaginal mucosa to retain their shape).

Liquid cytology is very effective in detecting even very early neoplastic changes of the cervix

Then it is closed and delivered to the laboratory. There, the sample taken from the cervix is ​​transferred from the fluid container through a specialized apparatus to a special filter.

Then the smear is cleaned, e.g. from an excess of inflammatory cells, red blood cells, mucus and bacteria. Finally, the cleaned sample is transferred to a microscope slide and then examined by a cytologist.

Advantages of liquid cytology

Liquid cytology allows to obtain more cells of the vaginal mucosa for analysis. When taking a smear in traditional cytology, it happens that a large part of the cells is not transferred to the slide or destroyed. In the case of liquid cytology, the risk of such a situation is minimal.

The result of the cytology on the liquid medium is much more reliable than the traditional one

In addition, the quality of the swab to be tested is significantly better than that of conventional cytology, as it is devoid of undesirable elements, e.g. inflammatory cells, red blood cells, bacteria or mucus. And the very good quality of the preparations means that it is less often necessary to repeat this type of test.

Thus, the number of incorrect or illegible results is reduced to a minimum. The research shows that the LBC method is characterized by even twice as high detection of abnormal cervical cells (compared to the classic method). The test allows to detect even the smallest neoplastic changes, often invisible in other diagnostic methods.

Since the swab is stored in a special fluid, other tests can also be performed on it, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes virus (HSV), Chlamydia trachomatis and others.

Liquid cytology - test types

Test 1 (cytoHPVtest-HR)- the test detects the presence or absence of DNA from HPV viruses that cause cancer, but without distinguishing between types.

Liquid cytology can be performed much less frequently than the traditional one

Test 2 (cytoHPVtest-DNA)- This test accurately identifies 16 types of HPV that can lead to the development of cervical cancer or other cancers of the genitourinary organs (a so high-risk types) and 8 low-risk HPV types, including the cause of genital warts around the reproductive organs (the so-called condylomata acuminata).

Test 3 (cytoHPVtest-mRNA)- this is the most sensitive of all tests. It detects the presence of an increased number of fragments of the five HPV viruses most often causing cervical cancer.

The price for the test varies from 60 to 400 PLN (depending on its type). You wait about 2 weeks for the results.

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Research