ASSESSMENT OF VAGINAL SMEAR CYTOLOGY PROCEDURE IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA INSTITUTIONS

Vaginal smear cytology (VSC) is the most common method used in studying estrous cycle. There are multiple conflicting references regarding the VSC procedure, many of which lack comprehensive illustrations with undesired outcomes. These disparities have been linked to variations in environmental factors and inconsistencies in VSC procedure. These factors influence estrous cycling even before the administration of test substance, thereby causing research results that are not accurate. This study is therefore aimed at evaluating the procedure, factors that are being considered and result outcome. The assessment was carried out using questionnaires administered to basic scientists in three south western Nigeria Institutions; University of Lagos, University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University. The results from this study established that the length of the suction pipette inserted and the quantity of smear volume collected during VSC procedure were always measured and maintained in only 27% of respondents, sometimes in 64% and never in 9%. More so, researchers do not follow specific pattern of grouping where age-based and weight-based grouping pattern are higher with 47.2% and 48.0% respectively than using estrous cycle phase with 4.8% and no basis with 0.3%. The evaluation on result outcome showed that effective cycling at 100% is the lowest while cycling rate at 50% is the highest. We therefore advise that the evaluations of these results and those of the available references be put into test to establish a standard model for usage in this region of the world.