[New membrane filter (PORETEC) method for ocular diagnostic cytopathology].
We describe a new membrane filter (PORETEC) technique for processing cytopathologic fluid specimens. This procedure provides excellent cytologic preparations because there is no background staining and only a small amount of fluid specimen is necessary, as there is little cell loss. We compared the number of cells collected by the membrane filter technique with that collected by cytocentrifugation using conjunctival brush cytology specimens from 6 subjects. The number of cells obtained by the new method was significantly higher than that obtained by the cytocentrifugation technique. This method was very useful for ocular fluid specimens such as aqueous humor, vitreous specimens, and scrapings from the cornea and conjunctiva. We showed some examples of these specimens including immunocytochemical staining done by this method. We confirm that this is valuable for diagnostic cytopathologic study of various fluid specimens in ophthalmology.