Saccomanno smear slides and Megafunnel slides for sputum specimens. A comparison.

Objective: To compare Megafunnel slides to standard Saccomanno smear slides of sputum specimens and evaluate the use of Megafunnel slides for retrospective studies.

Study Design: Papanicolaou-stained Saccomanno smear and Megafunnel slides (Shandon Lipshaw, Inc., Shandon Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) of 65 clinical sputum specimens from 51 patients were compared for cellular morphology, staining, background and cytologic diagnosis. Recovery of diagnostic cells was quantitated using 10 of these specimens. Megafunnel slides prepared from the clinical sputum samples were immunocytochemically stained. Diagnostic cells were quantitated both before removal from 64 archived Saccomanno smear slides and after placement of these cells onto 238 Megafunnel slides.

Results: Saccomanno smear slides and Megafunnel slides of clinical specimens were similar in morphology, background, staining, diagnosis and cell recovery. Megafunnel slides were superior for multiple immunocytochemical stains. The production of multiple Megafunnel slides from archival smear slides provided a method of performing numerous retrospective studies.

Conclusion: Megafunnel slides compared favorably to Saccomanno smear slides in the quality of specimens but are more expensive and labor intensive to prepare. However, the reduction in screening time by cytotechnologists may be advantageous. Additionally, their potential use for immunocytochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, or other special clinical and research analyses is very promising.