TheAyre spatula is a device used to collectPap smear. It is a wooden spatula with U-shaped openings on one side and a flat surface on another.[1] The broad end is for vaginal sample collection and the narrow end is for cervical sample collection. It is rotated 360 degrees in the vagina to obtain the cells to be sent for Pap smear examination. Recent studies have shown that long-tipped spatulas (Aylesbury device) or acytobrush along with an extended-tip spatula are better than an Ayre spatula in collectingendocervical cells.[2] However, the Ayre spatula continues to be used for cervical sample collection in lower-income countries. The Ayre spatula is introduced into the cervix after exposing the external os using aspeculum. Thecytology specimens are obtained by rotating the spatula firmly over theectocervix and quickly transferring the cells to a slide or jar.
The Ayre spatula was invented byJames Ernest Ayre andGeorgios Papanikolaou. Ayre was granted a patent for it in 1949 and donated the profits from sales of the spatula to theAmerican Cancer Society.[3]