Study: Two Tests for Cervical Cancer Equal

A newer test is no better than the Pap smear at detecting possible cervical cancer, a study has found. The Pap test collects cells from the cervix. They are smeared on a slide for viewing under a microscope. The newer test is called liquid-based cytology. The cells are rinsed in a preservative solution before the laboratory examines them. The study included 89,784 Dutch women. They were randomly assigned to one of the two tests. Both tests detected cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes to cells at about the same rate. Study results appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. HealthDay News wrote about the study October 27.