Comparison of Cell Preparations between Commercially Available Filter Cards of the Cytospin with Custom Made Filter Cards

Abstract

Introduction: Cytological evaluation of body fluids is an important diagnostic technique. Cytocentrifuge has contributed immensely to improve the diagnostic yield of the body fluids. Cytocentrifuge requires a filter card for absorbing the cell free fluid. This is the only consumable which needs to be purchased from the manufacturer at a significant cost. Aim: To compare the cell density in cytocentrifuge preparations made from commercially available filter cards with custom made filter cards. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective analytical study undertaken in department of pathology of a tertiary care centre. A 300 GSM handmade paper with the absorbability similar to the conventional card was obtained and fashioned to suit the filter card slot of the cytospin. Thirty seven body fluids were centrifuged using both conventional and custom made filter card. The cell density was measured as number of cells per 10 high power fields. The median cell density was compared using Mann-Whitney U test. The agreement between the values was analysed using Bland Altman analysis. Results: The median cell count per 10 High power field (HPF) with conventional card was 386 and that with custom made card was 408. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.66). There was no significant difference in the cell density and alteration in the morphology between the cell preparations using both the cards. Conclusion: Custom made filter card can be used for cytospin cell preparations of body fluids without loss of cell density or alteration in the cell morphology and at a very low cost.

Keywords

• body fluids
• cell density
• cytocentrifuge
• cytospin
• filter card