The aim of the present work was to analyses critically the preliminary results of the computerized Quality System of gynecologycal cytology, implanted by the Public Health Ministry of Brazil - SISCOLO. Cervicovaginal smears stained by the Papanicolaou method were utilized. These smears were obtained through the diagnostic routine undertaken at the Oncocentro Foundation Pathology Laboratory of pathology, comprising cases of March 2000. Such cases were rescreened in a blind study, by the staff of the Pathology Division of the SP Adolpho Lutz Institute's Cytology Section. The SISCOLO-Quality Program selects, among all cases analyzed in the period, all such positive cases (ASCUS, AGUS, CIN and carcinomas) and to complete 10% of all cases it selects all non-satisfying and negative cases at random. From the 8,370 cases selected in March 2000, the SISCOLO-Quality program selected 837 samples. Among the selected samples, 23,4% showed squamo-columnar junction material, 5% were considered non-satisfactory for diagnosis and 71.1%, satisfactory although limited. The rescreening analysis showed concordance in 86.62% of the cases, one grade discordance was observed in 12.42% and two or more grades discordance in 0.96% of the cases. We concluded that the SISCOLO-Quality Program has applicability in the health public system as external monitoring method and meets the Health Ministry's expectations.
External quality control; SISCOLO; Cervicovaginal cytology
