A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO SEE THE UTILITY OF MODIFIED ULTRAFAST PAPANICOLAOU (MUFP) STAIN OVER STANDARD PAP STAIN IN ROUTINE FNA SMEARS

Abstract

Ruchi Khajuria1, Megha Sharma2, Kuldeep Singh3, Kuldeep Kumar Koul4

BACKGROUND
Pap stain is an excellent method to review the cytological specimen; however, it is time consuming and costly. Various modifications have been developed in Pap stain of which latest is Modified Ultrafast Pap (MUFP) stain which is hybrid of the technique by Romanowsky and conventional Pap stain to reduce the staining time to 90 seconds.
AIM
Aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and applicability of MUFP stain in fine needle aspiration smears of various organs.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This prospective study was carried out in the cytopathology laboratory of GMC, Jammu for a period of 6 months from December 2015 to May 2016. A total no of 200 specimens were collected. The samples included 80 lymph node aspiration samples, 40 thyroid FNA samples, 50 breast FNA samples, 25 soft tissue aspirations and 5 salivary gland aspirations. Two smears were kept for fixation in 95% ethanol for staining with standard Pap stain and 2 were air dried for MUFP staining.
RESULTS
A correct diagnosis was achieved in all the cases. Background was similar in both staining methods. However, well-preserved cell morphology, crisp nuclear outline, good overall staining were well seen with MUFP method when compared with the standard Pap method.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study support the use of MUFP method in cytology laboratory over standard Pap method.

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