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Samantha Dixon, Chief Executive, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, sets the record straight on cervical screenings and interpreting your test results.
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), [1] cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), [2] or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) or, more rarely, anus (in both men and women). [3]
In England, the NHS cervical screening programme is available to women aged 25 to 64; women aged 25 to 49 receive an invitation every 3 years and women aged 50 to 64 receive an invitation every 5 years to undergo HPV testing. [15] [16] If there is a positive HPV test result, then patients undergo further cytology (Pap smear). [15]
The Bethesda system (TBS), officially called The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology, is a system for reporting cervical or vaginal cytologic diagnoses, [1] used for reporting Pap smear results. It was introduced in 1988 [2] and revised in 1991, [3] 2001, [1] [4] [5] and 2014. [6]
Depending on patient's age or Pap smear result, HPV testing may also be performed. Sexually transmitted infection screening - Depending on age and risk factors, clinicians may recommend gonorrhea or chlamydia testing at the time of the well-woman exam. This sample can be collected via a swab of the cervix or vagina.
The two screening methods available are the Pap smear and testing for HPV. CIN is usually discovered by a screening test, the Pap smear. The purpose of this test is to detect potentially precancerous changes through random sampling of the transformation zone. Pap smear results may be reported using the Bethesda system (see above).
Apparent dyskaryosis below the age of twenty-five is not regarded as significant, and in many countries where cervical screening programmes exist, the age of entry into the programme is around that of 25 years old. The programme often terminates around the age of 65, assuming no abnormal smears were found previously over a ten-year period.
Pap staining is used to differentiate cells in smear preparations (in which samples are spread or smeared onto a glass microscope slide) [6] from various bodily secretions and needle biopsies; the specimens may include gynecological smears (), sputum, brushings, washings, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, [4] abdominal fluid, pleural fluid, synovial fluid, seminal fluid, [7] fine needle aspirations ...