Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology
Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern, with the Pap smear serving as a crucial tool for early detection. However, the effectiveness of Pap smear screening is compromised by false positives and negatives, necessitating robust Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) measures....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
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| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20954/75326_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC_PF1(HJ_SS)_PFA(IS)_PN(IS).pdf |
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| author | Gracy Jeba Rani S Sowmya ES Keerthika Sri |
| author_facet | Gracy Jeba Rani S Sowmya ES Keerthika Sri |
| author_sort | Gracy Jeba Rani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern, with the Pap smear serving as a crucial tool for early detection. However, the effectiveness of Pap smear screening is compromised by false positives and negatives, necessitating robust Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) measures. This review examines the preanalytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of Pap smear cytology, focusing on quality indicators that enhance diagnostic accuracy. The 2014 refinement of the Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology (BSRCC) provides a standardised framework for classifying cytological abnormalities. Key quality indicators, such as the ASCUS/SIL ratio and Cytology-Histology Concordance (CHC), are highlighted, along with the importance of Six Sigma metrics and Lean principles for evaluating and improving Pap smear procedures. The review emphasises the implementation of QC, QA, Six Sigma, and Lean principles in healthcare systems to ensure high diagnostic standards, operational efficiency, and patient safety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e9046ee68cb400a87d9f7ce85ee1c33 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2249-782X 0973-709X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e9046ee68cb400a87d9f7ce85ee1c332025-08-20T01:51:13ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2025-05-01195EE01EE0510.7860/JCDR/2025/75326.20954Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear CytologyGracy Jeba Rani0S Sowmya1ES Keerthika Sri2Postgraduate, Department of Pathology, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India.Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India.Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern, with the Pap smear serving as a crucial tool for early detection. However, the effectiveness of Pap smear screening is compromised by false positives and negatives, necessitating robust Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) measures. This review examines the preanalytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of Pap smear cytology, focusing on quality indicators that enhance diagnostic accuracy. The 2014 refinement of the Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology (BSRCC) provides a standardised framework for classifying cytological abnormalities. Key quality indicators, such as the ASCUS/SIL ratio and Cytology-Histology Concordance (CHC), are highlighted, along with the importance of Six Sigma metrics and Lean principles for evaluating and improving Pap smear procedures. The review emphasises the implementation of QC, QA, Six Sigma, and Lean principles in healthcare systems to ensure high diagnostic standards, operational efficiency, and patient safety.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20954/75326_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC_PF1(HJ_SS)_PFA(IS)_PN(IS).pdfcytologyquality assurancequality parameters |
| spellingShingle | Gracy Jeba Rani S Sowmya ES Keerthika Sri Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research cytology quality assurance quality parameters |
| title | Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology |
| title_full | Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology |
| title_fullStr | Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology |
| title_short | Optimising Cervical Cancer Screening: A Critical Review of Quality Control, Assurance, and Process Improvement Strategies in Pap Smear Cytology |
| title_sort | optimising cervical cancer screening a critical review of quality control assurance and process improvement strategies in pap smear cytology |
| topic | cytology quality assurance quality parameters |
| url | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20954/75326_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC_PF1(HJ_SS)_PFA(IS)_PN(IS).pdf |
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