Syringing as a method of cell dispersal. I. Effect on intermediate and superficial squamous cells.

Mechanical shear in the form of syringing was applied to human gynecologic cytology specimens in an effort to disperse cell clumps. The percentage of single squamous cells achieved with the optimum conditions is generally 70 to 100 per cent. Syringing with a constant pressure device produces a high yield of single squamous cells without the concurrent high cell loss as often observed using enzymatic or chemical procedures. Data presented demonstrate that the slide preparation and clump evaluation procedures used for this study yield reliable and reproducible data. Studies varying stroke number and plunger pressure were completed and conditions for maximum dispersal were established.