How is a Pap Smear 'Fixed' on a slide?

Pap smear is a screening test This is done by using an Ayre's spatula Sensitivity of pap smear is 47 to 62 % If cytobrush used - Sensitivity is upto 90% Fixative used in pap Smear - 95 % ethyl alcohol. Since this methods sensitivity is less, a method to increase this sensitivity is the liquid based Cytology.With thistechnique, liquid samples are processed to provide a uniform, thin layer of cervical cells without debris on a glass slide. The cell sample is collected with an endocervical brush used in combination with a plastic spatula or with a plastic broom. The sample is rinsed in a l containing liquid alcohol-based preservative. With this technique, 80%to 90% of the cells are transferred to the liquid media, as compared with the 10% to 20% transferred to the glass slide with conventional cytologic testing.... Novaks Gyne.