Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
though cytology is not a method to classify bacteria, as my informants said,
they could see and interpret typical affects on cells caused by several micro-
organisms. Thus, the cells were interpreted in relation to their 'natural
environment' as presented on each slide:
As soon as I put the slide in here, I can react immediately 'Aha!' Now
this patient doesn't have it but 'Oh dear! There are cocci here' ... then
my brain thinks 'these cells can be little affected by the cocci' and I
must take that into account, when I assess the smear. She has ordinary
Döderlein, and that is what is most common, normal (...) doesn't affect
the cells. You couldn't say that.
(Cecilia, Cyto lab)
Classifi cations of cells were thus quintessential in my informants' work
with screening cytology. A crucial aspect of classifi cations was also that they
provided a basis for medical treatment of the patient, as described by Marit
at City lab:
Yes, of course you must have classifi cations because you treat the patient
in different ways depending on what they have, what diagnosis they
get.
When the cytodiagnosticians learned screening they fi rst became
accustomed to and learnt to identify normal cytology. Normality did not
speak for itself. It is notable that even normality was part of an active
classifi catory process.
You get to make a diagnosis, even if it is only benign, you get to take a
stand. It makes it more fun …
(Hanna, City lab)
Most of them said that long experience had given them a picture of the
normal 'in their head', as described below by Ingegerd at City lab (fi rst quote)
and Anita at Cyto lab (second quote):
We've learned what a benign cell should look like. Yes, it's in your
head.
… I have the normal somewhere in my head. I have seen it. I know how
it should look when it's normal and then I compare all the time, the new
cells that I see with the normal. That's the way it has to be, or? [laugh] I
haven't really thought about it so much, how to express it, and yes, put
it into words. I just
see
that it is like that, and then of course you could
describe it better …
