Journal of Advanced Cytology - Instructions For Author

Follow these instructions to prepare accurate, compliant manuscripts in cytology and cellular diagnostics.

The journal publishes research on cytology, cellular imaging, molecular diagnostics, and cell based clinical decision making.

• Original research, clinical trials, and validation studies
• Systematic reviews and meta analyses
• Methodology papers and technical notes
• Brief reports and case based learning points

Confirm scope fit, authorship order, and ethical approvals before submission.

• Verify study design and reporting guideline alignment
• Prepare ethics approvals and consent statements
• Confirm data availability and funding disclosures
• Review reference accuracy with DOIs

Provide a concise summary of novelty, diagnostic value, and clinical relevance.

• Summarize key findings and cytology impact
• Describe study population and specimen types
• Disclose preprints or prior presentations
• Highlight any imaging or assay innovations

The title page should include full author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact details.

Provide clear institutional identifiers to support indexing and attribution.

• Title page with author affiliations and corresponding author contact
• Structured abstract with objectives, methods, results, and conclusion
• Keywords aligned with cytology terms
• Main text with Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion
• Funding, conflicts, and author contributions
• References with complete citation details

Use consistent formatting to support reviewer feedback and imaging interpretation.

• Define abbreviations at first use
• Keep tables and figures close to their citation
• Include units for all measurements
• Use consistent terminology for cell types and stains

Abstracts should summarize objectives, methods, results, and conclusions with key numerical findings.

Select keywords that reflect specimen type, diagnostic approach, and molecular markers.

Provide ORCID identifiers when available to support accurate attribution and indexing.

Provide high resolution images and clear figure captions with stain and magnification details.

• Include scale bars or magnification details
• Describe staining protocols and imaging devices
• Ensure image adjustments are applied uniformly
• Provide raw data if requested for verification

Tables should be self explanatory with defined units and statistical reporting. Supplementary files may include extended methods, image sets, or protocols.

Provide descriptive file names and reference each supplementary file in the manuscript text.

Describe specimen handling, sample size rationale, and statistical analysis for reproducibility.

• Include inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Describe scoring systems or diagnostic thresholds
• Report effect sizes and confidence intervals
• Explain handling of missing data

Describe specimen collection, fixation, storage conditions, and processing timelines.

Include details on specimen adequacy criteria and quality assurance checks.

Define diagnostic thresholds, scoring systems, and interobserver agreement approaches.

Report calibration or training procedures for evaluators when applicable.

Human studies require ethics approval and informed consent. Animal studies require welfare approvals.

• Ethics approval identifiers
• Consent procedures and privacy protections
• Conflict of interest disclosure
• Funding and sponsor roles

Disclose financial or non financial relationships that could influence interpretation.

List funder roles in study design, data collection, or analysis where applicable.

Include a data availability statement describing repositories, access conditions, or justified restrictions.

• Public repositories such as Zenodo, Figshare, or Dryad
• Institutional repositories with persistent identifiers
• Controlled access repositories for sensitive data
• Supplementary files with supporting tables

Cite datasets and software in the reference list using persistent identifiers to support reuse and attribution.

Provide version details for code or analytical scripts.

List software tools, versions, and analytical scripts used for imaging analysis, statistical modeling, or assay processing.

Provide repository links when code is shared and include version tags for reproducibility.

Describe quality control checks, calibration methods, and data cleaning steps in sufficient detail for replication.

Provide clear documentation of any automated analysis or machine learning pipelines used in imaging studies.

Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. The journal screens for overlap and duplication.

Cite any reused material clearly and obtain permission for third party content.

• CONSORT for randomized trials
• PRISMA for systematic reviews
• STROBE for observational studies
• CARE for case reports

Interventional studies should be registered before enrollment. Provide registry identifiers and protocol details.

Describe protocol changes and justify deviations from the registered plan.

Remove identifying information from images and data. Obtain explicit consent for any identifiable clinical images.

Document consent procedures and provide confirmation of compliance with institutional policies.

If automated methods are used, describe training data sources, validation strategies, and performance metrics.

Report bias assessment steps and discuss limitations in model generalizability.

If the work has appeared as a preprint or conference abstract, disclose this in the cover letter and references.

Clear language improves peer review efficiency and helps readers focus on methods and outcomes.

Optional language editing services are available before submission and are separate from peer review.

Provide point by point responses to reviewer comments and submit a marked version when possible.

Authors must obtain permission for any third party figures, tables, or instruments used in the manuscript.

Provide documentation at submission to prevent delays during production.

Authors may send a brief inquiry with a working title, abstract, and study design to confirm scope fit.

Include key cytology methods and diagnostic relevance to receive targeted guidance.

Use standard units for measurements and define all abbreviations on first use.

Consistent nomenclature improves reviewer understanding and diagnostic interpretation.

Discuss limitations, potential biases, and generalizability of findings for cytology practice.

Clear limitation statements help reviewers and readers interpret diagnostic applicability.

Report confidence intervals, effect sizes, and exact P values where appropriate to support clinical interpretation.

Describe any subgroup analyses and justify their inclusion to avoid over interpretation.

Ensure that numbers in the abstract match the main text, tables, and figures.

Consistency across sections reduces review delays and improves indexing accuracy.

Accepted manuscripts move through copyediting, proofing, and production. Authors must review proofs promptly.

Verify all data, figure labels, and author information during proof review. Timely responses reduce delays in publication.

Provide a clear contributions statement describing roles such as study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript drafting.

Confirm that all authors approve the final manuscript and agree to the submission.

Acknowledge technical assistance, laboratory support, or funding sources not listed as authors.

Ensure that acknowledgements do not imply endorsement by organizations or sponsors.

If significant errors are discovered after publication, authors should notify the editorial office for correction or clarification.

Timely updates protect the integrity of the cytology record.

• Missing ethics approval details
• Incomplete imaging metadata
• Inconsistent diagnostic thresholds
• Unclear specimen preparation methods
• Incomplete funding or conflict disclosures

• Cover letter with novelty and clinical relevance
• All figures and tables cited in the text
• Supplementary files labeled and referenced
• Data availability and ethics statements included

Before submitting, review the manuscript for consistency across text, tables, and figures to avoid conflicting values.

Ensure that cytology terminology, staining references, and diagnostic thresholds are consistent from abstract to discussion.

• Verify all figure captions include staining and magnification details
• Confirm data availability links resolve correctly
• Check that ethics identifiers are listed in the methods
• Provide ORCID identifiers when available

Use standardized terminology for cellular morphology, specimen types, and diagnostic categories.

Consistent terminology improves reviewer interpretation and supports accurate indexing.

Glossaries or abbreviation tables are encouraged for complex cytology panels.

Consistent terminology also supports clear communication across multidisciplinary teams.

This practice improves clarity for international readers and indexing services.

Standard terms also help reviewers compare findings across studies.

Precision matters for cytology reporting.

The editorial office can advise on scope alignment, reporting guidelines, and data availability expectations.