The Pap Smear is done by gently collecting cells from your cervix using a spatula and a brush; but rather than the smear being transferred directly to a microscope slide, the sample is deposited into a small bottle of preservative liquid. The liquid pap smear test is more accurate than the traditional Pap smear because the cells are collected and placed into a vial with a preservative, which can preserve them for weeks and protect them from damage during transport. Also, because the test is usually carried out in a lab, the presence of abnormal cells can be detected quickly.