What are the different kinds of epithelial cell tests?

As epithelial cells are found in many important organs and glands in the body, there are several types of epithelial cell tests to examine and detect potential medical conditions. Pathology, involving the examination of cellular samples for diagnosis, is conducted by a pathologist. Some of the more widely-used epithelial cell tests include:

Urinalysis 

This test involves checking epithelial cells in the urine to measure the different substances that may be present in this bodily fluid. A microscopic scrutiny of the urine sample allows a lab technician to assess whether or not the epithelial cell levels are within the normal range. Generally, urine has only a few epithelial cells. An excessive number of epithelial cells in the urine could indicate kidney disease, an infection, or some other serious medical condition.

Pap Smear

This test is carried out to detect the presence of abnormal epithelial cells in the cervix. It involves microscopic examination of cells obtained from the cervix. The focus is on identifying epithelial cells that are cancerous or may have the potential to become cancerous. Healthcare providers gather cervix cells for microscopic evaluation.

Biopsy Tests

Biopsies involve the microscopic examination of epithelial tissue obtained from a certain part of your body, to detect any signs of disease. Different types of biopsies target different types of epithelial cells. For instance, prostate biopsies diagnose prostate cancer by examining epithelial cells that are extracted using a needle. In celiac disease biopsies, epithelial cells are obtained from the small intestine's lining via endoscopy to check for signs of damage to the microvilli of the cells.

Cytology Tests

Cytology involves the examination of cells from various bodily tissues or fluids to determine a diagnosis. Many types of cytology tests involve epithelial cells, including respiratory, gynecologic, eye, and thyroid cytology.