The data produced by membership surveys undertaken by the American Society for Cytotechnology that pertain to the quality diagnosis of Papanicolaou smears are reviewed. The results documented the parameters in such areas as workload, quality control, health and safety, continuing education, productivity measurement, reporting systems and salaries and helped to pinpoint problems in these areas. Some of these problems are being addressed through cooperative efforts with other groups concerned with improving the diagnostic accuracy of cytopathology.