Automated Cell Block System May Expand HPV Testing Options in Cervical Cytology: Study Suggests
A pilot study suggested that the Cellient Automated Cell Block System can be used to prepare cervical scrape samples as paraffin sections while preserving compatibility with HPV testing when samples are fixed with the formalin-free fixative BoonFix.
Researchers evaluated whether cervical scrape samples processed with the Cellient system could support both paraffin-based histology and molecular HPV assessment. The approach is notable because automated cell block preparation may help laboratories generate consistent sections while reducing hands-on preparation time.
The Cellient system produces paraffin blocks from cytology specimens. In clinical practice, such blocks can allow pathologists and cytologists to examine cellular architecture and perform additional staining, including p16 immunostaining, which is used in the evaluation of cervical lesions.
The pilot investigation focused on cervical scrapes previously classified on ThinPrep slides as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Samples were fixed in BoonFix, a formalin-free fixative, before processing into paraffin sections with the automated system.
The resulting paraffin sections were categorized as negative, atypical, CIN 1, CIN 2, or CIN 3. Investigators also assessed HPV status and examined whether the processed material remained suitable for additional laboratory evaluation.
Multiple HPV genotypes were identified in 79% of the cervical scrape samples. The study also indicated that Cellient-prepared paraffin sections could be used to evaluate p16-positive dyskeratocytes in samples with abnormal cervical cytology.
According to the report, the use of BoonFix appeared to preserve sample utility for HPV testing while enabling paraffin histology. Additional related studies suggested that similarly prepared samples could also be used for morphotyping the vaginal microbiome and for preparing cytologic ThinPrep slides.
The findings point to a potential workflow advantage for cytology laboratories. By combining automated paraffin section preparation with HPV testing and biomarker assessment, the method may support a more integrated diagnostic approach for selected cervical cytology specimens.
Although automated systems may involve upfront costs, the authors noted that the time saved in sample preparation could improve efficiency and allow more specimens to be assessed within routine clinical timeframes.
The evidence remains preliminary, and the findings come from a pilot study with a limited sample set. Larger studies would be needed to confirm diagnostic performance, cost-effectiveness, and reproducibility across different laboratory settings.
Still, the results suggest that formalin-free fixation combined with automated cell block processing may help bridge cytology, histology, HPV testing, and microbiome assessment in cervical screening workflows.
Source: Hindawi Publishing Corporation Obstetrics and Gynecology International Volume2013,ArticleID502357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/502357
