Pap testing and cervical cancer

The pap test is the most successful cervical cancer screening program. From the mid-1950s until the early 1990s, cervical cancer deaths have been reduced by more than 70% — and that rate continues to decrease today.

Since the introduction of regular pap testing, both the incidence and the death rates of cervical cancer have been decreasing for the past 30 years.

Beyond the conventional "pap smear"

George Papanicolaou , for whom the pap test is named, developed the test in the 1930s. Originally known as the "pap smear", the procedure involved collecting cells from the cervix and smearing them onto a glass slide. A laboratory professional would then review the slide under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.

What the laboratory professional sees:
A conventional "pap smear" vs. the ThinPrep Pap Test

The conventional "pap smear" slide preparation

In the traditional "smear" method of collecting cervical cells, only a small percentage of collected cells make it onto the slide itself, and abnormal cells may be discarded before they can be reviewed. During review of the slide, cells that have dried out and clumped together can obscure the view of abnormal cells.

ThinPrep Pap Test slide preparation

The ThinPrep Pap Test process improves the quality of the sample, preparing a slide that is more appropriate for diagnostic review.

Today, about 90% of pap tests in the U.S. use a liquid-based method of storing samples that is much more accurate than the traditional pap smear. Instead of "smearing" cervical cells onto a slide, the collected cells are sent to the lab in a vial. The liquid in the vial preserves the delicate cell detail and eliminates some of the shortcomings of the conventional pap smear — such as drying and clumping of cells.

Not all liquid-based pap tests are the same. An advantage of the ThinPrep Pap Test is that it allows for additional testing of cells that have been collected in the vial. For example, from a single sample of cells collected in a ThinPrep Pap Test vial, your doctor could order additional tests — besides your pap test — for HPV, Chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The ThinPrep Pap Test is the only liquid-based pap test FDA-approved for this use. Since the ThinPrep Pap Test came onto the market in 1996, it has contributed to a 28% reduction in invasive cervical cancers in the United States..¹

Imaging takes pap testing to the next level

A more recent innovation has further improved pap testing by automatically scanning for cells with large and dark nuclei — those cells that may be abnormal. This significantly improves disease detection; so be sure to ask your doctor if your lab uses the ThinPrep Imaging System.

Learn more about how imaging improves accuracy

How often should you get a pap test?

Guidelines for pap testing have recently been updated, and recommend:²

• Pap testing should begin at age 21, or 3 years after first having sex, whichever happens first
• Annual tests from ages 21 to 30
• After age 30, pap tests may be given every 2 to 3 years, if the previous 3 tests have been negative
• After age 30, pap tests may be given every 3 years, if a combined HPV and pap test has been negative
• Pap testing should be done more often in women who are immunosuppressed, HIV-positive, or who were exposed in utero to the synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES)
• Routine pap testing may be discontinued in women who have undergone hysterectomy with removal of the cervix, and who have no history of abnormal pap tests

Your doctor can recommend the interval of pap testing that is right for you.

Learn about understanding pap test results

Getting ready for your pap test

There are several things you can do to ensure that you can get the best possible results from your pap test. Schedule your appointment for a time when you are not having your period. The best time is 10 to 14 days following the first day of your last period. In the 2 days before your exam, avoid vaginal medications, lubricants, vaginal contraceptives, and douches. Do not have sex for 1 to 2 days before the exam.

Learn more about preparing for annual exams

Why pap testing is necessary

Even though cervical cancer rates have gone down in the last few decades, every woman needs to play a role in preventing cervical cancer and staying healthy. Regular check-ups and routine pap testing are key components in the fight against cervical cancer.

Learn more about the rise of adenocarcinoma

Next: getting an HPV test