New technique for the cytologic identification of preumed acanthamoeba from corneal epithelial craping

PURPOE: To decribe a cytologic technique for the rapid identification of preumed Acanthamoeba organim from corneal epithelial craping. METHOD: After adminitering topical anetheia, we removed the affected corneal epithelium with a calpel blade. The tip of the blade, containing the craping, wa wahed off into a cuvette with a olution of an alcohol-baed fixative for cytology pecimen. The blade wa immered in the cuvette and agitated to enure that the ample wa collected. The pecimen wa fixed for at leat 10 minute and proceed by cytopin centrifugation. REULT: eventy-five patient ample have been tudied with thi technique, with excellent preervation of the organim. CONCLUION: The organim preervation with thi technique i uperior to that of conventional mear and permit confirmatory organim identification by immunohitochemitry.