Liquid-Based Cytology vs Conventional Cytology in Detecting Cervical Cancer—Reply

In Reply: Dr Saraiya and colleagues interpret the comment in our Editorial to mean that, despite the findings in the study by Dr Siebers and colleagues,¹ conventional cytology might decline further in market share. They suggest that this could negatively affect resource-limited programs such as the CDC cervical cancer early detection program.

We did not intend to suggest and certainly do not support a complete elimination of conventional cytology. We agree that the option to use the lower-cost conventional cytology instead of liquid-based cytology is valid and may even be preferable in some settings. If the 2 techniques are well performed, they are equivalent. Resource-limited programs and clinics may well decide to continue to use conventional cytology. Rather, our point was a pragmatic reflection that few practitioners and laboratories that now use liquid-based cytology will revert to conventional cytology on the basis of the findings of equivalent accuracy of the methodologies.