With the object of examining the diagnostic accuracy of and pain reaction to endocervical curettage (ECC) either by using a new instrument, Vabra mc cervix, or with a conventional 3 mm metal curette, 298 patients with histologically verified cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cytological suspicion have been involved in a consecutive prospective randomized trial. One hundred and forty-eight patients underwent curettage with the Vabra instrument (vabrasio) followed by conventional curettage; 150 underwent the same procedure, but in reverse order. In 114 patients, CIN was ascertained in one or both trials. Vabra mc cervix found normal histology in 23 of these patients (20%), whereas conventional curettage showed normal histology in 58 patients (51%). Quantitatively, Vabra mc cervix extracted significantly more tissue material than did conventional curettage. The pain intensity when using of Vabra mc cervix was less severe. The present study showed diagnostic accuracy of Vabra mc cervix to be 80% (95% confidence limits: 63.38-80.73), compared with 49% (95% confidence limits: 35.17-54.35) when using conventional curettage.