FV Hospital has put a new test technique, called the Novaprep pap test, into application to screen for cervical cancer.

This new pap test technology is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a simple method which surpasses every other screening test in terms of effective early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

Compared to the conventional method pap smear, in which cervical cells are smeared onto a microscope slide, the new pap test has proven to be much more efficient. Because the traditional smear method depends on the doctor’s technique, its disadvantage is the possibility of uneven cellular distribution which may cause technicians and pathologists difficulties when reading the slide.

Moreover, in smear samples that contain excessive mucus and bacteria, the potential for revealing abnormal cervical cells is limited. These limitations could result in less accurate results.

When performing the new Novaprep pap test, instead of smearing cervical cells directly onto microscope slides, cells are kept in vials containing special preservative. These vials are then sent to the laboratory. The Novacyt system will automatically process all samples, and, after removing mucus and other impurities, it smears cells evenly onto microscope slides to aid pathologists in their examination and diagnosis.

The cells are then stained and examined under a microscope. This closed and automated cell processing system ensures greater safety for technicians because they do not have to be in direct contact with the samples.

This method is called liquid-based cytology. These cervical cell samples can be stored in preservative for a long time to use for HPV DNA testing as needed.

For more information about cervical cancer screening, please contact Obstetrics & Gynaecology department by calling: (08) 54 11 35 35.