The various devices have been extensively compared for adequate endocervical component sampling. The presence of endocervical cells traditionally is taken as a yardstick of adequacy. We compared the endocervical brush and the traditional Ayre’s spatula for cervical smear adequacy as per the criteria laid down by the Bethesda system and looked for the feasibility of the use of either of the two devices alone in obtaining an adequate smear. The endocervical brush proved to be better at endocervical component sampling and as good as the spatula at squamous cell sampling. Chances of hemorrhage were found to be more with the endocervical brush, though statistically not significant. The endocervical brush picked up intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix better. The increased chance of picking up endocervical cells reduces the need for repeat smears thereby improving the cost effectiveness and reducing the psychological trauma to the patient.

Key words : cervical smears, Ayer's spatula, endocervical brush