Specimen Requirements

Stability

Days Performed

Mon - Fri

Turnaround Time

5 - 7 days

Methodology

Reference Range

Special Info

Label Thin Prep sample vial with patient's name and unique identifier and Beaker label. Collect the sample by scraping the ectocervix circumferentially with a plastic scraper and rotating a cytobrush in the endocervical os. Rinse both devices thoroughly in the Thin Prep vial. Cap vial tightly and send to laboratory. HPV DNA molecular detection methodologies, can be performed on the ThinPrep pap test sample submitted to the Cytology Laboratory in PreservCyt solution. REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: Specimen must be accompanied by Cytology requisition or electronic equivalent, giving patient's name, age, clinic number, last menstrual period, attending physician, clinical diagnosis including patient's pertinent medications, time, date and source of specimen submitted. Indicate if it is a screening pap, high risk screening pap or diagnostic pap smear (I.C.D - 10 code required). Also, refer to HPVHRT. In order to facilitate accurate and complete interpretation of cervical screening results, specimens ordered for co-testing of cytology and HPV testing will be held until both results are finalized.

Clinical Info

Evaluation for atypical cells suspicious or diagnostic of malignancy. The Pap Smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. False negative results occur with all screening tests, emphasizing the need for rescreening at recommended intervals, and clinical correlation.