On the American scene: Cytology proficiency testing symposium overview

The current and future status of cytology proficiency testing (PT) was the focus of a symposium held in Atlanta November 16–17, 1993. Sponsoring organizations were the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Cytopathology Education Consortium [American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), American Society of Cytology (ASC), American Society of Cytotechnology (ASCT)]. The February 28, 1992 Final Rule implementing CLIA 1988 had specified that laboratories evaluating gynecologic cytology specimens had to be enrolled in an approved PT program by January 1994. A contract request had no responses by the April 1993 deadline, however.