Which device collects both squamous and columnar cells in a single specimen?

• A. The Vaginal Swab
• B. The Cytology Brush
• C. The Cervical Broom
• D. The Endocervical Brush

Answer: (C)

The key idea is sampling the transformation zone where squamous and columnar epithelia meet. A cervical broom is designed to sweep across both the ectocervix (which provides squamous cells) and the endocervical canal (which provides columnar cells) in one pass. This yields a single specimen that includes both cell types, giving a more representative Pap smear.

A vaginal swab mainly collects vaginal squamous cells and may miss endocervical material; an endocervical brush targets endocervical cells (columnar) but not the ectocervix well; a cytology brush also collects endocervical cells and some transformation-zone cells, but the cervical broom is the classic device specifically designed to capture both cell types in one sample.