ap Smear 1esL

!oslp 8enko
nurslng PeaLh AssessmenL
March 27, 2012

Culck knowledge
use: 1o esLabllsh a hlsLologlcal
dlagnosls of cervlval and vaglnal dlsease
and ldenufy Lh presence of genlLal
lnfecuons, such as cancer, herpes, and
cyLomegalovlrus.
SpeclmenL: Cervlval and
endocervlcal cells.
CandldaLes
Suppressed lmmune sysLem, such as a LransplanL
reclplenL
MoLher Look uLS (dleLhylsulbesLrol)* when
pregnanL
revlously LreaLed for cancer or a condluon called
cervlcal lnLraeplLhellal neoplasla-2 or 3 (Cln 2, Cln
3)
*shown Lo cause a rare vaglnal Lumor ln glrls and young
women who had been exposed Lo Lhls drug ln uLero
CandldaLes Con'L.
More common slLuauons,
a ap smear may be ordered when a woman
has frequenL sexual parLners, ls pregnanL, or
has abnormal vaglnal bleedlng, paln, sores,
dlscharge, or lLchlng.
8ecommended lrequency
1he approprlaLe frequency of ap Lesung ls dependenL on age and sexual
acuvlLy.
Age 21-29: every 2 years
Age 30-49: every 3 years (lf lasL Lhree exams were negauve.
Pv unA LesL may be recommended Lo women wlLh abnormal
ndlngs and/or who are posLmenopausal.
Age 30-63: every 3 years
Age 63-70+: ACCC* recommends dlsconunulng rouune screenlng lf 3+ ap
1esLs are negauve and wlLhln Lhe lasL 10 years.
*1he Amerlcan College of
CbsLeLrlclans and CynecologlsLs
auenL's reparauon
no: douche or Lub baLhe for 24 hours
before exam.
no: sexual lnLercourse for 24 Lo 48 hours
before exam.
no: vaglnal creams or foams for 48 hours
prlor Lo Lhe exam and do noL schedule Lhe
LesL durlng your mensLrual perlod.
normal llndlngs
A "negauve" ap smear means
Lhe cells obLalned appear
normal or Lhere ls no
ldenuable lnfecuon or
abnormallues.
lmpllcauons of 8esulLs
unsausfacLory: lnadequaLe sampllng or oLher
lnLerferlng subsLance
8enlgn: non-cancerous cells, buL smear shows
lnfecuon, lrrlLauon, or normal cell repalr
ALyplcal cells of uncerLaln slgnlcance: abnormal
changes ln Lhe cells LhaL cover mosL of Lhe
exLernal parL of Lhe cervlx
Low-Crade changes: frequenLly due Lo lnfecuon
wlLh Pv, whlch ln some lnsLances can be a rlsk
for cervlcal cancer
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN):
A term used to categorize degrees of
dysplasia arising in the epithelium, or
outer layer, of the cervix.
lmpllcauons of 8esulLs Con'L
High-Grade changes: very atypical cells that may result in cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma: terms used to identify certain
types of cancer; in these cases, cancer is evident and requires immediate
attention.
8eferences
AACC. (2012 lebruary). ap smear. 8eLrleved from
hup://labLesLsonllne.org/undersLandlng/anal
yLes/pap/Lab/LesL

Leeuwen, v. A., LeLh, . uebra., & 8ladh, L. M. (2011).
LaboraLory dlagnosuc LesL wlLh nurslng lmpllcauons.
hlladelphla: uavls Company.