Customer Training Program

The ThinPrep® Pap Test (TPPT) Customer Training Program has been developed by Cytyc Corporation to assist laboratories in the conversion process from conventional Pap smear to TPPT. The program covers all aspects of the conversion process including communicating the change to the clinicians, cytopreparatory training, TPPT Morphology Training and guidelines to assist with training the entire cytology staff in the laboratory.

If you are scheduled to attend TPPT Training at Cytyc Corporation's Headquarters in Marlborough, MA and have any questions about your travel plans, please refer to our Travel Arrangements FAQ's.

Cytyc's TPPT Customer Training Program is broken down into two sections: Part I - Pre-training and Part II - Morphology Training.

Part I - Pre-training
This section includes key activities that laboratories can begin to do in preparation for attending the Part II - Morphology Training. The Pre-training manual is designed to familiarize the laboratory with the ThinPrep cytopreparatory process, to assist the laboratory in recruiting clinicians to collect TPPT specimens and to familiarize the laboratory staff with the morphologic criteria associated with the TPPT.

Part II - Morphology Training
This training is attended by one pathologist and one cytotechnologist from each laboratory. The TPPT Morphology Training is designed to communicate the cytologic similarities and differences between the conventional Pap smear and the ThinPrep Pap Test. The training utilizes a series of glass-slide training modules in which each participant learns how to screen for and recognize a spectrum of normal and abnormal cytologic morphology on ThinPrep Pap Test-prepared slides. The Morphology Training is based on the "train-the-trainer" concept whereby the designated primary cytotechnologist and pathologist who attend the Morphology Training Program are responsible for facilitating the training of the cytology staff back in the laboratory. Cytology Staff Training guidelines and recommendations are also included in this section.

Training Support
Cytyc Corporation has available for loan to TPPT trained facilities, sets of 20 TPPT cases (slide libraries). These slide libraries can be borrowed for 2 week intervals and utilized in the laboratory as training modules, proficiency testing or just as a review. For more information, please refer to our Slide Library page.

Cytyc's Regional Cytology Application Specialists are available to work with the laboratories in assisting with the conversion to the ThinPrep Pap Test both within the laboratory as well as the medical community.

When do I need to be at Cytyc Corporation for the TPPT training?
ThinPrep Pap Test Training takes place on specified weeks, Tuesday through Thursday, at our training facility in Marlborough, MA. The training class begins at 8:30 AM on Tuesday and participants are required to travel to Marlborough on the preceding Monday. Class runs each day from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and adjourns on Thursday at 2:30 PM.

Who will assist with my travel arrangements?
Cytyc Corporation's American Express Travel Office will assist you with your travel arrangements. When you schedule your training date with our Training Coordinator, you will be provided the travel office number and asked to contact them to schedule your travel. It is imperative that you utilize our travel office to make your arrangements so we can ensure that your travel and ground transportation schedules coincide.

Once at the airport in Boston, how do I get to Cytyc Corporation?
When you arrive in Boston, proceed outside the terminal and follow the signs to the "Ground Transportation - Limo Pick-up" area. On your travel itinerary are the contact numbers for the limousine company (Limo 18) as well as the American Express emergency travel number. If you have difficulty finding the limousine pick-up area, please call either one of those phone numbers for further directions.