Order of endocervical and ectocervical cytologic sampling and the quality of the Papanicolaou smear.

Objective: To determine whether the order of cell collection, endocervical or ectocervical cells first, has an effect on the quality of the Papanicolaou smear.

Methods: One thousand smears were obtained using an Ayre spatula and an endocervical brush. In 500 cases the endocervical brush was used first, and in 500 cases the spatula was used first.