The practice of cytopathology during the era of COVID-19: challenges and changes

Swikrity Upadhyay Baskota; Ashish Chandra; Paul Cross

doi:10.1016/j.mpdhp.2020.10.007

The practice of cytopathology during the era of COVID-19: challenges and changes

Diagn Histopathol (Oxf). 2021 Mar;27(3):116-122. doi: 10.1016/j.mpdhp.2020.10.007. Epub 2020 Oct 12.

Authors

Swikrity Upadhyay Baskota^{1

2

3}, Ashish Chandra^{1

2

3}, Paul Cross^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA, USA.Conflicts of interest: none declared.
² , Consultant Cellular Pathologist, Department of Pathology, St.Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.Conflicts of interest: none declared.
³ , Consultant Cellular Pathologist, Department of Cellular Pathology, South of Tyne Pathology Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.Conflicts of interest: none declared.

Abstract

This paper reviews the challenges faced by cytology laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic. Various safety guidelines regarding collection, handling, transport and sampling in cytology laboratory are presented. A brief literature overview of adapted changes regarding new safety techniques, processing, sampling techniques implemented by the cytology laboratories in this part of the world is presented. The use of cytology in COVID-19 patients is discussed. The authors have also tried to present the challenges and changes faced for training and education during this time. Migration from multi-headed scope in-person sign-out to digital based platforms were adapted to continue medical education. The potential long-term implications of these adaptations on cytology services are also touched upon.

Keywords: COVID-19; challenges; changes; coronavirus disease-19; cytology; education.

Publication types

Review