Pap Test: Collecting Cells in Liquid
Topic Overview
Liquid-based methods for collecting cervical cells and preparing them
for laboratory evaluation are now available.
A sample of cervical cells is collected during a
Pap test, and the cells are then rinsed in a liquid
vial instead of being smeared on slides. The vials are taken to the laboratory,
and a thin layer of the specimen is put on slides for microscopic examination.
Only a small portion of the sample is used for the slide, so the remainder of
the cell sample can be used for any further testing, such as a
human papillomavirus (HPV) test.
These methods can produce
false-positive results just like standard Pap tests. Not all laboratories
provide this testing, but liquid-based methods are becoming more widely used.
These methods cost more than standard Pap testing.
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
|
Last Revised
|
December 28, 2010 |
Last Revised:
December 28, 2010