Smear test for cervical cancer

A cervical screening test (previously known as a smear test) is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix.

The cervix is the enterance to the womb from the vagina. Detecting and removing abnormal cervical cells can prevent cervical cancer. Cervical screening isn't a test for cancer; it's to check the health of the cells of the cervix. In cases, where there is abnormal cells, they are removed so that they cannot become cancerous.

Client group: females over 25.

Under 49 - tested every 3 years.

50-64 - tested every 5 years.

The test takes around 5 minutes to complete. 

An instrument called a speculum will be gently insterted into the vagina to hold the walls of the vagina open so that the cervix is visible. A small soft brush will be used to take some cells from the surface of the cervix. 

A sample of cervical cells will then be sent to a lab and examined under a microscope to see whether there are any abnormal cells.

Some women may find the procedure a bit uncomfortable or embarassing, but for most women it is not painful.

If the test picks up abnormalities in the cells in the cervix, it may be recommended that you have treatment to remove them, or further tests in a few months to see if they return to normal on their own.

The cell sample is now taken using liquid-based cytology (LBC), rather than the 'Pap' (Papanicolaou) smear test that was used previously.

The head of the brush on which the cells have been collected is broken off into a small pot of preservative liquid or rinsed directly into the preservative liquid.

The sample will then be sent to a lab, where it will be treated to remove any other material that may have been picked up, such as mucus or blood. It is then examined under a microscope to see whether there are any abnormal cells.

In some areas, the first test carried out on the sample will be to see if the human papillomavirus (HPV) is present. Only if it is found will the lab need to check for abnormal cells.

If you have abnormal results, you may be told that you have:

• borderline or low-grade changes (called dyskaryosis)
• moderate or severe (high-grade) dyskaryosis

If the result is low-grade, it means that although there are some abnormal cell changes, they are very close to being normal and may disappear without treatment. In this case, your sample will be tested for HPV. If HPV isn't found, you are at a very low risk of developing cervical cancer before your next screening test. 

If HPV is found, you will be offered an examination called colposcopy, which looks at the cervix more closely.

If your result is high-grade dyskaryosis, your sample will not be tested for HPV, but you will be offered colposcopy in order to check the changes in your cervical cells.