Also Known As:
Pap smear, cervical smear
Related Resources: (see HPV and Dysplasia Page)
Definition:
The Pap test, named for its inventor, Dr. George Papanicolaou, is a test of cells
collected from a woman's cervix. The cells are examined under a microscope to
look for abnormalities, especially those that may be precancerous (dysplasia).
These cells are taken with a small brush or wooden scraper and either placed ("smeared")
on a slide or placed in a liquid fixative (ThinPrep® type) and then sent to
a laboratory for examination.
Related Terms
• dysplasia
• pelvic exam
• HPV
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