Increasing cytotechnologist workload above 100 slides per day using the ThinPrep imaging system leads to significant reductions in screening accuracy
Tarik M. Elsheikh, Joseph L. Kirkpatrick, Mackenzie K. Cooper, Mary Lynn Johnson, Allison P. Hawkins, Andrew A. Renshaw · Cancer Cytopathology · 2010
BACKGROUND: With the current and projected shortage of a cytotechnologist (CT) workforce and the desire to reduce laboratory costs, increased productivity with automated assisted primary screening has become an attractive option for many laboratories. To the best of the authors' knowledge, longitudinal studies examining the effect of increasing workload on the performance of individual CTs have not been performed previously. METHODS: Using the ThinPrep imaging system (TIS), the performance of 3 CTs with variable levels of experience were evaluated. Their productivity was noted to increase from an average of 87 to 118 slides per day. The analysis included comparisons of error rates, screening rates, and screening times, including a review of 22 fields of view (FOV). Poststudy interviews of the CTs were also performed. RESULTS: Increased workload was found to be proportional to the decreased percentage of cases that underwent full manual review (25.2% to 20.1%; P 100 slides per day with the TIS appears to have been accomplished mostly through a reduction in the amount of time spent reviewing the 22 FOV and the percentage of cases that underwent full manual review, which resulted in a significantly reduced screening performance.