Maturation Smear

CPT CODE:

USEFUL FOR:

Assessing hormonal status in a variety of conditions including:-assessment of ovarian function after hysterectomy, during menstrual disorders, or in premature menses (childhood) -before, during, and after a pregnancy (e.g., fertility studies, threatened  abortion, retained placenta, hydatidiform mole)-investigation of functioning (hormone-producing) tumors-evaluation of various endocrine disorders-guidance for hormonal therapy

SPECIMEN REQUIRED:

Specimen should be from the lateral vaginal wall (not cervix), labeled with patient's first and last names (required) , and immediately fixed in 95% ETOH or sprayed with a commercially available fixative. Maturation Index will not be determined if endocervical cells or inflammatory cells are present.Note:     For optimal results specimen should be collected at                   middle of menstrual cycle.

TRANSPORT TEMPERATURE:

Ambient\Refrig NO\Frozen NO

CLINICAL INFORMATION:

Maturation of the vaginal squamous epithelium is hormone dependent; estrogen stimulates proliferation and progesterone inhibits it.The maturation index, performed on squamous cells exfoliated from the intact top layer of the surface of the vagina epithelium, is expressed as a percentile relationship of parabasal cells to intermediate cells to superficial cells.

CLINICAL INTERPRETATION:

In the preovulatory phase of the normal menstrual cycle (peak estrogen activity), superficial cells predominate and contain glycogen.In the postovulatory phase (peak progesterone activity), intermediate cells predominate. Before puberty and after menopause, parabasal and intermediate cells are seen.

REFERENCE VALUES:

Descriptive report