Which of the following is a reason for false negative Pap smear result?
Accuracy of cervical screening resultsCervical screening is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer. Show
Since CervicalCheck started in 2008:
But screening does not prevent all cases of cervical cancer. You can test negative for types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and still develop cervical cancer. HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. Abnormal cells in the cervix can also be missed. If 1,000 people are screened, about 20 people will have abnormal (pre-cancerous) cervical cells:
This is why we invite you at regular intervals for a screening test. Read about the limitations of cervical screening Inaccurate test resultsSometimes test results are inaccurate. We call these results 'false positives' and 'false negatives'. False positives and false negatives are unavoidable. They happen in every screening programme. But the introduction of HPV cervical screening will mean fewer false negatives than before. This is because it is a better way to screen for cervical cancer. False positive resultsA result may be reported as positive even though there is no HPV infection or changes to cells of the cervix. This is called a 'false positive'. A false positive may mean you will have further tests that ultimately confirm there was no risk of cancer at that time. False negative resultsA result may be reported as negative even though there is a HPV infection or abnormal cells in the cervix. This is called a 'false negative' A false negative may mean that you will not have been sent for further tests when there may have been a chance to stop cancer developing. Because of this, it's important that you:
If you have concerns or symptoms, talk to your GP immediately. Even if you have had a recent normal screening result, never ignore symptoms. Why abnormalities can be missedYour sample will be checked for HPV first. If HPV is found, it will also be checked for abnormal cells. But not everyone who develops cervical cancer will have HPV found at screening. A negative HPV test also does not mean you won't get the infection in the future. Abnormal cells can also be missed. This is because:
No test in any screening programme will find every woman who has abnormal cervical cells. Cervical cancer takes many years to develop. In most cases, it takes 10 to 15 years for cells to go from normal to abnormal to cancer. If your sample was positive for HPV, you will have a repeat test in 12 months. This means that if abnormal cells were missed on one screening test, they should be found quickly on the next test. This is why you should always attend your cervical screening test when it's due. A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is an exam a doctor uses to test for cervical cancer in women. It can also reveal changes in your cervical cells that may turn into cancer
later. A pap smear is done to look for changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you have cancer, finding it early on gives you the best chance of fighting it. If you don’t, finding cell changes early can help prevent you from getting cancer. Women ages 21-65 should have a Pap smear on a
regular basis. How often you do depends on your overall health and whether or not you’ve had an abnormal Pap smear in the past. You should have the test every 3 years from ages 21 to 65. You may choose to combine your Pap testing with being tested for the human papillomavirus
(HPV) starting at age 30. If you do so, then you can be tested every 5 years instead. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it’s linked to cervical cancer. If you have certain health concerns, your doctor may recommend you have a Pap more often. Some of these include: Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns. They’ll let you know for sure. You shouldn’t have a Pap smear during your period. Heavy bleeding can affect the accuracy of the test. If your test ends up being scheduled for that time of month, ask your doctor if you can reschedule. For the most accurate Pap smear, doctors recommend taking the following steps, starting 48 hours before your test. It takes about 10-20 minutes for
the whole exam, but only a few minutes for the actual Pap smear. The test is done in your doctor’s office or clinic. You’ll lie on a table with your feet placed firmly in stirrups. You’ll spread your legs, and your doctor will insert a metal or plastic tool (speculum) into your
vagina. They’ll open it so that it widens the vaginal walls. This allows them to see your cervix. Your doctor will use a swab to take a sample of cells from your cervix. They’ll place them into a liquid substance in a small jar, and send them to a lab for review. The Pap test
doesn’t hurt, but you may feel a little pinch or a bit of pressure. Your doctor will get them within a few days. They’ll come back either negative (normal) or positive (abnormal). Normal result A negative result is a good thing. That means your doctor didn’t find any precancerous or cancerous cells on your cervix. You won’t need another Pap until you’re due for your next scheduled one. Abnormal result If your results come back positive, it doesn’t mean you have cancer. There are several reasons you could have an abnormal Pap smear. Inflammation can happen if you’ve had sex or used a diaphragm shortly before having a Pap smear. If you have inflammation or minor cell changes, your doctor may take a “wait and see” approach. They may suggest you have another Pap test in a few
months. If the abnormal cells haven’t cleared up by then, your doctor may order more tests. These might include a procedure called a colposcopy. During a colposcopy, your doctor will insert a speculum into your vagina, just as they did for the Pap test. This time, they’ll look at the cervix with a colposcope. That’s a tool that has a lens and a bright light that allow
your doctor to get a better look at your cervix. Your doctor will swab your cervix with vinegar or some other liquid solution. It’ll highlight any suspicious-looking areas. Your doctor will be able to see them through the lens on the colposcope. If they find areas that don’t look right, they’ll take a sample (biopsy). They’ll send the sample to a lab for further testing. They may swab
your cervix with a chemical solution to limit bleeding. Pap Smear RisksA Pap smear is considered a safe procedure. But it’s possible that the test may miss some abnormal cells or cervical cancers (false negative). Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of cervical cancer screening. Can a Pap smear have a false negative?Of 79 Pap tests from patients with EA/AIS, 57 (72.2%) were diagnosed as abnormal and 22 (27.8%) as negative. Of the 22 false-negative cases, 10 remained negative on consensus review, with false-negative diagnoses attributed to sampling variance.
What is a false positive Pap smear result?It's up to 30 percent of people [who] are falsely positive." Women who have a positive Pap smear generally get a colposcopy, which is an even closer examination of the cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of disease. A false positive could mean going through a biopsy during a colposcopy.
Why would a Pap smear come back unsatisfactory?Unsatisfactory Pap test results: The lab sample may not have had enough cells, or the cells may have been clumped together or hidden by blood or mucus. Your health care provider will ask you to come in for another Pap test in 2 to 4 months.
How common is false negative HPV test?With HPV tests, the false negative rate is only 5%. Here's how HPV testing would work. Up until around age 30 (experts differ slightly as to the appropriate age), women would be screened using Pap tests. That's because young women tend to have more sexual partners and are exposed to HPV at a high rate.
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