Cytotechnologists Jobs: Essential in Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
Most people are not aware of the vital role Cytotechnologists play in early detection of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, with the incline in unemployment rates, the medical profession is experiencing a steady decline in the number of new Cytotechnologist graduates. The average active national workforce of Cytotechnologists is approximately 6,500 with an average age of 50 years old. Due to budget constraints within the allied health fields, many well-established cytotechnology training schools in the United States have already or are planning a significant number of closures in the field of cytotechnology. Historically, 200 Cytotechnologists graduate annually. With the recent decline in training course offerings, cytotechnology training schools are graduating on average approximately 37 Cytotechnologists annually.
According to an article published in Cervical Trends Health, “Recently several senior veteran Cytotechnologist educators have expressed alarm over the sudden and unexpected closure or planned closure of a significant number of well-established cytotechnology training schools in the United States.”
Cytotechnologists are not only responsible for screening approximately 64 million Pap tests, Cytotechnologists also extend into other essential functions such as cytologic evaluations of other non-gynecologic organ systems, laboratory administration, and cytogenetic and molecular testing including the early detection of Cervical cancer. Many patients do not realize how much we truly rely on the cytotechnology workforce to diagnose certain cancers.
Dr. Robert Marshall Austin, M.D., is a Professor of Pathology and the Director of Cytopathology at Magee-Womens Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh states ”A modeling study of emerging cervical cancer screening issues and challenges in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute cautions that the potential benefits could be neutralized, and even reversed, if screening were to substantially decrease . This would obviously be a great misfortune, given the promise of new primary prevention vaccine era. Schools of cytotechnology are a valuable resource in the ongoing efforts for cervical cancer screening and detection of nongynecologic cancers. Support of cytotechnology school infrastructure in the United States is important to ensure an adequate and appropriately-trained cytotechnology workforce”.
Some attribute the need for Cytotechnologists is due to the introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and HPV DNA Tests. The United States is relying more and more on liquid-based cytology and location-guided/computer assisted screenings which no longer requires the work of a Cytotechnologist. However, according to Dr. Austin, “Only one HPV DNA test is FDA approved, and its approved indications are exclusively for adjunctive use along with cervical cytology. Remarkably, the current approved test has no internal adequacy standard to prevent erroneous negative reporting on sparsely cellular or even acellular samples. The reliance on testing from liquid-based cytology vials further suggests that it will be difficult for the manufacturer to too strongly discourage the use of cytology. According to the manufacturer, no clinical trials to seek FDA approval as a stand alone primary screening test are anticipated in the near future. Despite the inability of the manufacturer of the sole FDA-approved HPV DNA test to publicly advocate off-label, stand-alone HPV testing and the absence of acknowledged plans for early clinical trials, a few investigators are often cited in lay press articles predicting the imminent demise of the Pap test. Whether or not the manufacturer will be effective in muting these misleading communication messages regarding modern Pap testing remains to be seen”.
To read more about Dr. Austin’s article http://www.cervicalhealth.com/Spring2008/focus.php
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