RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Cellular contamination during automatic and manual staining of cytological smears JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 604 OP 607 DO 10.1136/jcp.23.7.604 VO 23 IS 7 A1 W. T. Barr A1 D. E. B. Powell A1 J. B. Raffan YR 1970 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/23/7/604.abstract AB Three routine cervical smears were contaminated with adenocarcinoma cells from a malignant serous effusion which was being processed simultaneously in an automatic staining machine. Further investigation showed that cells were transferred in up to 17% of cases. However, with manual staining, the figure could be as high as 30%. The possibility of misleading cellular transfer should therefore always be considered. Serious fluids should not be processed with routine cervical smears.