Laboratory Services

The Papanicolaou (Pap) test is the standard of care for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. The conventional Pap test was based on the microscopic review of a cervical specimen smeared on a slide and stained. Though successful in reducing the evidence of invasive cancer, the conventional Pap test was limited, and there were no technological advancements for about 50 years.

In the late 1990’s a new FDA-approved, automated, liquid-based technology was introduced. The ThinPrep Pap Test took Pap testing to the next level. ThinPrep Pap became the only liquid-based pap test found to be “significantly more effective” than the conventional pap smear. The technology substantially improved the number of satisfactory samples and improved disease detection by identifying more squamous intraepithelial lesions. Fixed cells are filtered as a thin layer on a slide and stained. Epithelial cells, diagnostically relevant cells, and infectious organisms are more clearly visible. Liquid-based technology results in a dramatic reduction in unsatisfactory slides relative to the conventional (non-liquid based) prepared slides.

OBGYN Medical Center Associates Cytology Processing Techs have years of experience in the processing and staining of ThinPrep Pap tests. All our cytotechnologists are certified annually and registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).