Cervical Smear (Pap Smear)
Examination of cells collected from the cervix to detect pre-cancerous lesions.
Cervical smear is the cornerstone of cervical cancer screening from age 21 or after sexual debut. It is performed annually or at physician-recommended intervals. Combined with HPV typing, screening accuracy improves significantly.
The test takes a few minutes and is done during a gynecologic exam. It is not performed during menstrual bleeding.