Cytopathology and More | Pap proficiency testing—for whom, when, and why

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1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. National cytology proficiency test results—initial test—2005 to 2012. Accessed June 14, 2014. Available at: www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Leg islation/CLIA/CytologyProficiency Testing.html.
2. Scores. College of American Pathologists database. Information accessed June 18, 2014.
3. Howell LP, Nayar R, Savaloja L, et al. The role of proficiency testing in ensuring quality: findings from the College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Cytopathology Quality Consensus Conference working group 3. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013;137:183–189.
4. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2011, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, Md. http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2011/, based on
   November 2013 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER website, April 2014. Available at: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/browse_csr.php?section=5&page=sect_05_
   table.05.html.
5. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. 42 CFR 493.855. Standard; Cytology: gynecologic examination. Accessed at www.gpo.gov on July 21, 2014.

Dr. Crothers, chair of the CAP Cytopathology Committee, is cytopathology medical director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Barbara Blond is CAP senior technical analyst, biostatistics. Beth Chmara is a technical manager, CAP Surveys. For more information, visit www.cap.org for a list of Pap PT frequently asked questions (in the website’s Accreditation and Laboratory Improvement section, under About Pap PT).