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Summary Aims Overseas studies have shown equivalent sensitivity and specificity between computer-assisted screening and manual screening, with increased screener productivity. This study was undertaken to test these in a New Zealand laboratory setting. Methods A total of 9232 slides were read manually alone, and following ThinPrep Imager-assisted screening, and the results compared. Two senior screeners and a cytopathologist reviewed the slides with discordant results. Results: The detection rate for abnormalities was 7.30% for Imager-assisted screening and 7.83% for manual screening. The concordance in diagnosis of abnormalities ranged from 72.7% to 100% with the lowest concordance for high-grade abnormalities diagnosed by Imager-assisted screening. The rate of unsatisfactory smears with Imager-assisted screening is half that of manual screening. There was a screener productivity increase of 140%. In all but one case, abnormal cells were identified by the Imager but screeners varied in their interpretations. Conclusions Overall, Imager-assisted screening was as sensitive as manual screening, and more sensitive for high- grade lesions, with a halving of the rate of unsatisfactory smears. In the setting of the New Zealand cervical screening program, the initial screen by the Imager removes the need for a second, rapid rescreen required by the program for manual screening.

The heparin dependent platelet aggregating factor in the serum from an individual with heparin induced thrombocytopenia exhibited reactivity with only 50% of an extensive panel of normal platelet rich plasmas, and this variability was independent of the platelet rich plasma platelet Factor 4 content. Individual sera of 3 other patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia showed considerable variation in the lag phase and rate of platelet aggregation when tested with different normal platelet rich plasma preparations. These findings suggest that in the appropriate clinical setting the documentation of heparin dependent platelet aggregating factor should employ a panel of platelet rich plasmas if the initial screen is negative.