Pap Smear

Pap Test or Papanicolaou Test

In Pap smear, a sample of loose cells is gently scraped from the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina), spread on a glass slide, and sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination. A Pap smear is often done as part of a routine gynecologic examination in women, and is able to detect precancerous and cancerous conditions in their early and most treatable stages.

Alternatively, a new technique known as a liquid-based smear involves placing the scraped specimen into a vial of liquid. This liquid-based material is then studied under a microscope.

Purpose of the Pap Smear


 * To check for cervical cell changes that could develop into cancer. It can also detect cancer cells.
 * Performed regularly in women after age 18 to 21 (or in younger women who are sexually active) to screen for cancer of the vagina, cervix, and uterus.
 * To detect benign cervical abnormalities, such as inflammation of the cervix.

Links
 * In healthcommunities
 * Wikipedia

DIY Pap smear
The test kit consists of a test tube with a clear solution. The woman inserts a regular tampon for three to eight hours, a week before the onset of her menstruation cycle, and then removes the tampon and places it in the test tube. The clear liquid inside the tube is actually a special solution that protects and seals the cervical and vaginal cells on the tampon. South-African microbiologists Andreas Karas and Jonathan Keytel
 * Sen-C-test:

Links
 * New cervical cancer test
 * On sevafrica