INTRODUCTION Immediate fixation of smears in 95% alcohol for Pap staining is commonly used for cytopathological diagnosis of cancers and other diseases. Few research studies have investigated the comparative outcomes of alcohol wet fixation and rehydration of air-dried smears, indicating that air-dried rehydrated (ARF) smears are viable alternative to wet-fixed (WF) smears. However, there are no or few investigations on the effects of long durations of air-drying fixation on cytomorphological staining quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS 124 cervical smears were obtained from the Family Planning Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Quadruple smears were WF and air-dried for 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h prior to rehydration with normal saline and fixation (ARF). All the smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain, examined microscopically for their cytomorphological features, and scored. Cytomorphological scores were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS No significant difference in cytolysis, cell border, nuclear border, chromatin, and cellularity between WF and ARF was observed. However, significant differences in cytoplasmic staining quality (p value <0.001) and the absence of RBCs (p value <0.001) were observed in the 4-h ARF. The absence of RBCs in the ARF smears rendered a clearer background than in the wet fixation. CONCLUSIONS ARF, Pap-stained smears showed comparably superior cytomorphological features to those of WF smears. The 8-h ARF smears produce crispy chromatin and excellent background, making them suitable for bloody cytological samples.

中文翻译：

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与传统的湿固定涂片相比，延长宫颈涂片的风干固定时间可产生更优异的细胞形态染色质量。

简介 立即将涂片固定在 95% 酒精中进行巴氏染色通常用于癌症和其他疾病的细胞病理学诊断。很少有研究调查酒精湿固定和风干涂片复水的比较结果，表明风干再水化（ARF）涂片是湿固定（WF）涂片的可行替代品。然而，对于长时间风干固定对细胞形态染色质量的影响没有或很少有研究。材料和方法 124 份宫颈涂片取自加纳库马西 Komfo Anokye 教学医院计划生育科。将四重涂片WF并风干2小时、4小时和8小时，然后用生理盐水补液并固定(ARF)。所有涂片均用巴氏染色剂染色，在显微镜下检查其细胞形态学特征，并评分。使用SPSS软件对细胞形态学评分进行统计分析。结果 WF 和 ARF 之间的细胞溶解、细胞边界、核边界、染色质和细胞结构没有观察到显着差异。然而，在 4 小时 ARF 中观察到细胞质染色质量（p 值 <0.001）和红细胞缺失（p 值 <0.001）的显着差异。ARF 涂片中没有红细胞，因此比湿固定的背景更清晰。结论 ARF、巴氏染色涂片显示出比 WF 涂片优越的细胞形态学特征。8 小时 ARF 涂片产生脆的染色质和出色的背景，使其适合血细胞学样本。