A new era for the Pap test

Utilization of liquid-based Pap testing is a significant improvement in women's health care. Increased diagnostic sensitivity and improvement of specimen adequacy are seen with its use. When combined with HPV testing, the uncertainty associated with waiting for additional testing is eliminated and additional unnecessary procedures, such as colposcopy, can be reduced. This relatively simple collection system will allow significant advances in molecular epidemiology and, in the future, development of a molecular Pap test.