Papanicolaou (Pap) test

Examples of Papanicolaou (Pap) test in the following topics:

• Papanicolaou Test

  • The Pap smear is a test used to determine the health of the cervical canal and is an important test in cancer prevention.
  • The BabeșPapanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system.
  • The sample is stained using the Papanicolaou technique, in which tinctorial dyes and acids are selectively retained by cells.
  • Papanicolaou chose stains that highlighted cytoplasmic keratinization, which actually has almost nothing to do with the nuclear features used to make diagnoses now.
  • Since the introduction of the Pap test, deaths caused by carcinoma of the cervix have been reduced by up to 99% in some populations wherein women are screened regularly.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • In more developed countries, cervical screening using a Papanicolaou (Pap) test or liquid-based cytology is used to detect abnormal cells that may develop into cancer.
  • Pap smears have reduced the incidence and fatalities of cervical cancer in the developed world, but even so there were 11,000 cases and 3,900 deaths in the U.S. in 2008.

• Cervical Cancer

  • Cancer screening using the Pap smear can identify precancerous and potentially precancerous changes in cervical cells and tissue.
  • While the pap smear is an effective screening test, confirmation of the diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer requires a biopsy of the cervix.
  • Since the vaccines only cover some of the cancer causing ("high-risk") types of HPV, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

  • Different tests can be used for diagnosis such as pelvic ultrasound and laboratory tests for STIs.
  • Usually, more than one test is needed for proper diagnosis.

• The TORCH Panel of Tests

  • The TORCH panel of tests acronym spells out as follows:
  • Micrograph of a pap test showing changes (upper-right of image) associated with Herpes Simplex Virus, a TORCH infection.

• Fungi

• Paying for Medical Care

  • For example, while a public-funded system (see below) might decide to pay for a pap smear only once every five years if the patient was not positive for the human papilloma virus based on cost efficiency, in a private system a consumer can choose to be screened more often and enjoy the luxury of greater peace of mind and marginally reduced risk.
  • One explanation for the higher health care costs in the U.S. is the billing approach: in the U.S., many doctors work on a fee-for-service basis, which means they earn more if they do more tests or are consulted more frequently.
  • In contrast, doctors who are salaried have no financial incentive to perform unnecessary tests.
  • When doctors are salaried, they are not inclined to perform unnecessary tests just to increase their income, which is what doctors using fee-for-service approaches do.