Cytopathology professionals should seek additional training to prepare
for job shortages

    CHICAGO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- By now we have all heard or
seen commercials promoting testing and vaccination of human papillomavirus
(HPV), a virus with more than 100 strains, 30 of which are sexually
transmitted. While the debate continues about whether prevention and
vaccination is socially acceptable, another issue has risen behind the
scenes.

    What will gynecological cytopathologists do now that the HPV
vaccination reduces the demand for their expertise in Papanicolau (Pap)
test administration and analysis? If HPV testing and vaccination continues
to evolve, regular Pap tests will not be required as often. And the
cytotechnology market will face a serious labor crisis.

    "Laboratory directors, managers and cytology educators face a balancing
act in providing and retaining sufficient quality, skilled cytology
practitioners to meet the current needs of the health care system while
preparing the practitioners to shift their focus to nongynecological
cytology and molecular pathology as Pap test volumes shrink," writes Jamie
L. Covell, CT (ASCP) in an upcoming related American Journal of Clinical
Pathology (AJCP) article. "We, as cytology practitioners, can choose to
adapt and fight to establish a new role in the evolving process of cervical
cancer prevention, or we can flee and leave the field to others."

    But the industry has time to figure out its next move because there are
some issues that may slow the HPV testing and vaccination machine down.
Thought leaders are concerned that women who are told that Pap smears are
not needed as often may discontinue other necessary health and wellness
monitoring. Mandatory testing for adolescent girl is still facing major
societal and cultural opposition. There is no assumption that women and
practitioners will easily adapt to and accept HPV testing as a substitute
for short-interval Pap test, a trusted method since the 1950s. Also,
vaccinations are not effective on women already infected -- 27 percent of
U.S. women between ages 14-59, and almost 45 percent among women ages
20-24, according to a 2007 Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA) report ("Prevalence of HPV Infection Among Women in the United
States, Dunne, Eileen F., M.D., et al. JAMA. 2007;297:813-819).

    The Numbers

    An article in the October issue of the AJCP indicates that in the
current labor market, the demand for cytotechnologists increases by 3.6
percent every year and the supply increases by 4 percent. (Three percent
vacancy rate).

    The projection shows that with adherence to current screening
guidelines, there will be a decrease in demand of almost half of requested
Pap tests by the year 2010.

    Instead of the demand for cytotechnologists being around 8,033 in the
year 2010, the demand will only be around 5,623; by 2026, only 8,358
instead of 14,146.

    Despite a decrease in the number of cytotechnology programs and a
fledgling 76 percent occupancy rate, there is still an annual net growth of
1.6 percent growth in this workforce supply.

    Compared to other healthcare fields, only 65 percent of cytotechnology
students are reportedly getting work in laboratories.

    Who's Affected?

    Current cytotechnologists and gynecologists;
    Students and school administrators who need to know if Cytopathology
programs will bring more bang for the buck;
    Health care leaders, educators who may need to reassess the role of the
cytopathologists;
    Local hospital and business administrators who may be concerned with
the direction of testing supplies;
    Human resource managers who will need to know labor issues in this
field;
    Women concerned about best practices and trends in gynecological
health;
    Readers, listeners and viewers who may want to know more about HPV
testing.

    For more information or to arrange interview opportunities, please
contact the ASCP Communications department at 312/541-4999.

    Founded in 1922, the American Society for Clinical Pathology is a
professional society with nearly 140,000 member pathologists and laboratory
professionals. Based in Chicago, the ASCP provides excellence in education,
certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and
laboratory professionals.

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