The Papanicolaou test is used to detect?

Answer 1

Pap Smears detect abnormal cervical cells that may develop into Cervical cancer. This is abnormality in cells is usually caused by HPV, human papiloma virus.
Well, that's a question that has a short answer, and a longer explanation. The pap smear looks for damage due to high-risk HPV infection.

The purpose of the pap smear is to identify patients who need further testing for cancerous and precancerous changes on the cervix. In the pap smear, a sample of cells is taken from the cervix and a specialist looks at the cells under a microscope (or a computer reads the result). In some cases, the health care provider may also request an test for high-risk (cancer-causing) HPV subtypes with the pap smear. Under the most recent guidelines for cervical cancer screening, this test is done for women 30 and over, or is added on in the case of a mildly abnormal pap (i.e. an ASCUS result). This test for high-risk HPV subtypes is not meant to tell you that you do or don't have HPV, but is only meant to highlight which patients need a different test schedule based on cancer-causing HPV subtypes.

In the course of collecting a Pap smear, the health care provider can also request that the lab check for STDs. In some cases, a test for STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can be added on to the lab request and tested from the same swab. In other cases, a second swab is sent out for the infections, and a microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge can also be done to check from trichomoniasis.

In rare cases, a pap smear may show infection with trichomoniasis, but a normal pap smear can not be assumed to mean no trich infection. In even rarer cases, a pap may show signs of herpes. Herpes will only show up if there's active infection on the cervix, and a woman with a normal pap smear must not assume that she does not have herpes.

In summary:

• A pap smear is a screening test to find out what women need further testing to rule out cancerous or precancerous changes on the cervix.
• A pap smear may occasionally detect trichomoniasis or herpes, but a normal pap doesn't mean you don't have an STD.
• HPV testing during pap smears is not meant to tell you if you have now or have ever had HPV; it's only meant to detect high-risk HPV subtypes so that an appropriate screening schedule can be targeted to your needs.
• HPV testing is not done on every pap smear. Ask your health care provider about the cervical cancer testing plan that's appropriate for your age and Pap history.

Answer 2

The pap smear is used to look for abnormal cervical cells that could indicate cervical cancer.

Abnormal cells may be caused from HPV, Human Papiloma Virus. Having multiple partners increases your risk of HPV, and/or genital warts as well as many other sexually transmitted diseases.

Answer 3

Benign cells, precancer or cancerous cell. Papanicolau staining is most commonly used for cervical smears.

Answer 4

protein in the urine

(^not the correct answer, the papanicolaou test is the pap smear that females get at their yearly check up, has nothing to do with the urine)

Answer 5

A pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer.

Answer 6

A pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer.

Answer 7

A pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer.

Answer 8

A pap smear looks for cervical cancer and precancerous changes on your cervix.

Answer 9

A pap smear checks for cervical cancer and precancerous changes on the cervix.

Answer 10

cervical cancer