There are many, starting with our standards: cytology and cell block histology (not for pap tests except in very unusual cases). Others currently include:

• HPV typing by PCR
• Chlamydia testing by PCR
• N. gonorrhea testing by PCR
• Herpes Simplex Virus detection and typing by PCR
• Genetic screening for Cystic Fibrosis (common mutations) by PCR
• Genetic screening for thrombophilia conditions by molecular methods

Cytologies are very important because they add about 20% more information than is obtained with just the histology. Using this method, Gynecor™ has been able to diagnose ovarian carcinoma in transit, endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia and endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma. We believe that it would be a great disservice to the patient to not do a cytology on all of the vials that we receive for testing. Since our fixative allows us to do this and to frequently correlate the results with the histology, we get a much more reliable result.

No. Unlike other labs, Gynecor uses cytology synergistically with histology. Each method may provide information that the other may not. While there may be redundancy, since the two methods provide much of the same information, we cannot know before hand which samples will provide only duplicate information, which will provide truly synergistic information, and in which cases one method will “salvage” the case by providing the only useful information. The redundancy provides a quality confirmation of the findings.

Histology depends on having enough tissue to yield an accurate test result. However, a tissue specimen is sometimes hard to collect, especially in post-menopausal patients.. Gynecor™ fixative is multifunctional and can be used for both histology and cytology. Therefore, what is lost to one mode of examination may be detected by the other. For example, cytology outcomes may be available when histology results are not. Unlike other tests that may obtain insufficient tissue sampling, Gynecor's™ test results are not limited to histology only so they are successful more often with whatever specimen is collected.