Pap smear

smear (smēr) a specimen for microscopic study prepared by spreading the material across the slide.

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Pap smear , Papanicolaou smear see under test.

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Pap smear (pp)

n.

A screening test, especially for cervical cancer, in which a smear of cells exfoliated or scraped from the cervix or vagina is treated with Papanicolaou stain and examined under a microscope for pathological changes. Also called Papanicolaou smear, Papanicolaou test, Pap test.

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Pap smear

A screening test for precancerous and cancerous cells on the cervix. This simple test is done during a routine pelvic exam and involves scraping cells from the cervix.

Mentioned in: DES Exposure

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Pap smear, Pap test.

See Papanicolaou test.

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Pap smear

Papanicolaou test, pap test Gynecology A test in which cells from the uterine cervix and endocervix are sampled, spread on a glass slide, stained, and interpreted by a cytotechnologist or pathologist based on the Bethesda System Abnormal values The PS is the 'gold standard' method for early detection of HPV, herpes, trichomonad infections, CIN/dysplasia, cervical CA Accuracy PS interpretation is a subjective art based on experience of the screening cytotechnologist or pathologist; in good labs, error rate–false negative is 5%–15%. See Bethesda System. Cf Papanicolaou classification.