How many endocervical cells needed for satisfactory pap smear?

For a satisfactory Pap smear, the recommendation is to have at least 10 endocervical cells present in the sample. The presence of these cells is important as they indicate that the sample adequately represents the transformation zone of the cervix, where precancerous changes are most likely to occur. If endocervical cells are absent, the sample may be deemed unsatisfactory, necessitating a repeat test.