Objectives: Automated screening will become important due to an aging workforce, declining numbers of new cytotechnologists, and the need for increased screening sensitivity in the vaccine era, where high-grade abnormalities will decline. This study documents workload in gynecologic cytology throughput before and after the implementation of the BD FocalPoint™ Guided Screener (GS) System. Study Design: We collected daily screening data from 3 time periods: the 12 months prior to GS implementation, the 6 months immediately after implementation, and the ensuing 7–18 months after implementation. Data was tabulated at the individual and total laboratory levels. Results: In the 6-month period immediately following implementation, productivity increased in 3 of 5 cytotechnologists, as compared to the figures 12 months before implementation. The laboratory increased productivity slightly (+2.4%), with individual changes ranging from –6.9 to +14.7%. In the 7- to 18-month ‘mature’ period after implementation, productivity increased in all 5 cytotechnologists with an average of +15.4%. Individual increases ranged from +6.1 to +26.9%. Conclusions: Overall productivity increased in the period beyond 6 months, and this increase was eventually noted in all personnel. Increased productivity was associated with a short period of learning in which the magnitude of the effect was less than in the mature period.

Keywords:
Pap test, Cervical cytology, Workload, Automation
© 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
2013
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