Pap test

The Papanicolaou test (also Pap test, Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a test that doctors do for women.  The test tells whether the woman has cancer cells on her cervix, which is something inside the vagina.

A doctor takes cells from the cervix using a speculum, brush, and spatula.  The doctor puts the cells in a liquid or on a glass slide.  Then the liquid or slide goes to a laboratory for testing.  The technician in the laboratory looks at the cells under a microscope to see if they are cancer or could become cancer.  

Women do pap tests to find out if they have cervical cancer early. The earlier they can start treatment, the more likely they are to live.

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Category:Medical tests