Critical alert values in cytopathology

Introduction: Critical values of the physician to initiate rapid and prompt treatment. This concept has gained significance in cytopathology recently. Aim: 1. To evaluate the CVs in cytolog delivery. 2. Perceptions of clinicians about the utility of Critical Values in cytology. reviewed the documented cases of CVs among 23000 cytopathology reports. Cases considered CVs included bacteria and fungi in f luid cytology, Pneumocystis fungi or Cytopathic changes in Pulmonary cytology specimens, Unexpected malignant cells in cytology and Polymorphs in Synovial fluid. A survey was conducted among clinicians to rate the usefulness of critical alert values on a s but no change in treatment. 3. Stat phone call needed not sure if change in treatment. 4. Stat phone call needed for prompt treatment. Another survey was also conducted on t favoured a need of stat phone call to their cellular phones rather than land line phone. documented in our cytology specimens of 23000 during the study per specimens. Most common CV was AFB positive smears (n=26) 44.8%. The next common was unexpected malignancies 23cases (39.6%) .6 cases (15.7%) were polymorphs in synovial fluid. CSF showed polymorphs in 3 case (5.2% the gynaecology specimens no Herpes in Pap smears of near term pregnancies were identified. Survey among clinicians were done most of them voted for a immediate phone call for prompt treatment and the best mode of communication preferred was call t o the mobile phones. feel that practise of CVs in cytology is very important in preventing the undesired delay in patient management. Critical values (CVs)in clinical pathology is a well known entity that necessitates immediate notification of the physician to initiate rapid and prompt treatment. This concept has gained significance in cytopathology recently. 1. To evaluate the CVs in cytolog y reports from January 2011 to J une 2013 and its utility in delivery. 2. Perceptions of clinicians about the utility of Critical Values in cytology. Materials and Methods reviewed the documented cases of CVs among 23000 cytopathology reports. Cases considered CVs included bacteria and luid cytology, Pneumocystis fungi or Cytopathic changes in Pulmonary cytology specimens, Unexpected malignant cells in cytology and Polymorphs in Synovial fluid. A survey was conducted among clinicians to rate the usefulness of critical alert values on a s cale of 1 to 4 as follows 1. No need of phone call. 2. A phone call should be done but no change in treatment. 3. Stat phone call needed not sure if change in treatment. 4. Stat phone call needed for prompt treatment. Another survey was also conducted on t he mode of communication of critical alerts and most of the clinicians favoured a need of stat phone call to their cellular phones rather than land line phone. Results documented in our cytology specimens of 23000 during the study per iod. Among these 78.3% were Non specimens. Most common CV was AFB positive smears (n=26) 44.8%. The next common was unexpected malignancies 23cases (39.6%) .6 cases (15.7%) were polymorphs in synovial fluid. CSF showed polymorphs in 3 case (5.2% the gynaecology specimens no Herpes in Pap smears of near term pregnancies were identified. Survey among clinicians were done most of them voted for a immediate phone call for prompt treatment and the best mode of communication o the mobile phones. Conclusion: Though the overall number of CVs in cytopathology is low but we feel that practise of CVs in cytology is very important in preventing the undesired delay in patient management. Critical alert values, cytology