The Pap test is a simple procedure in which a small sample of cells is collected from the cervix and examined under a microscope.
The Pap test is a simple procedure in which a small sample of cells is collected from the cervix and examined under a microscope.
Pap tests are effective but not perfect. Their results sometimes appear normal even when a woman has abnormal cells of the cervix, and likewise, sometimes appear abnormal when there are no abnormal lesions on the cervix. DNA tests to detect HPV (human papillomavirus) strains associated with cervical cancer may be used in conjunction with the Pap test, particularly when results are equivocal. Fortunately, most cervical precancers develop slowly, so nearly all cases can be prevented if a woman is screened regularly.