Objective: To determine adequacy with air-dried, unstained smears.
Study design: The study was conducted on a total of 70 cases. The cases were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of all 70 and was analyzed by a consultant, observer A. Group II consisted of 41 cases from group I. In addition to observer A, a junior resident with 3 months' experience in pathology (observer B), analyzed the slides independently. The results were compared with those on stained smears.
Results: When correlated with stained smears, in group I, 55 of 58 (94.8%) cases were reported as adequate, and 11 of 12 cases (91.7%) were labeled inadequate. All were proven correct. In group II, stained smears confirmed that 33 of 35 (94.3%) were labeled adequate by observer A and 33 of 36 (91.7%) by observer B. Stained smears did not confirm 1 of 6 (16.6%) cases labeled inadequate by observer A and 1 of 5 (20%) cases by observer B.
Conclusion: Unstained smear examination is an effective technique for determining adequacy. An inexperienced practitioner can perform it as well.