The perceived and actual diagnostic utility of veterinary cytological samples

O bjectives : To establish the proportion of cytology samples sent to a commercial veterinary laboratory that yields diagnostically useful information in the context of current use and perceptions of cytology.
M ethods : Nine hundred and forty-five cytology submissions were retrospectively collected and categorised according to diagnostic utility. A survey into the use and perceptions of cytology was distributed at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress 2008.
R esults : A specific diagnosis was reached in 23·1 per cent of samples and a cytological diagnosis in 35·3 per cent. 22·4 per cent of samples yielded some useful information, but 19·2 per cent were unacceptable. Seventy-four participants in the survey took an average of 3·9 cytological samples per week, of which they examined 27·0 per cent in-house only, 21·6 per cent in-house before sending to an external laboratory and 51·4 per cent were sent externally without prior examination. "To obtain a definitive diagnosis" was the principal reason cited for performing cytology.
C linical S ignificance : Results suggest that cytology is underused and may be applied in an inappropriate context in the UK. It is hoped that illustrating the diagnostic outcome of samples received by a commercial laboratory will encourage increased, appropriate use of cytology.