The pap smear as we know it is an invention of Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou (1883-1962), an American of Greek birth, the father of cytopathology.

He first published a large series of cases in Diagnosis of uterine cancer by the vaginal smear (Papanicolaou & Traut, 1943). The sampling technique has hardly changed ever since.

The test is simple and effective, consisting of a simple cervical swab to collect a sampling of cells. These cells are placed on a glass slide and checked for abnormalities in the laboratory. Approximately five to seven percent of pap smears produce abnormal results, such as dysplasia , a possibly pre-cancerous condition. Many of these abnormalities are NOT due to cervical cancer, but they are an indicator that increased vigilance is needed.

Depending on the guidelines of the screening programme in your country it is recommended that all sexually active women have an annual or biannual pap smear and examination to detect any cancer in its early stages. If a smear returns abnormal results, and depending on the nature of the abnormality, the test may need to be repeated in three to twelve months. If the abnormality requires closer scrutiny you may be referred for a colposcopy.

Doctors who fail to diagnose cervical cancer, from a pap smear, have been convicted of negligent homicide; as in the case of Karin Smith.

External link

• Questions and Answers about the Pap test (USNIH)
• eMedicine Health Pap Smear
• Cervical Cancer: Prevention/Screening from MedlinePlus