Studies have shown that Liquid Based Pap Tests increase detection of precancerous cells over the conventional smear based glass slide Pap smear. The Liquid Based Pap Test
is the most widely used method for cervical cancer screening in the
United States. It was developed to address the limitations of the
conventional Pap smear, and after rigorous clinical trials, it was
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a replacement
for the conventional Pap smear. The Liquid Based Pap Test
is a cytology method approved by the FDA found to be "significantly
more effective" than the conventional Pap smear for detection of
cervical abnormalities. Liquid Based Process
Clinical Studies * Bernstein SJ, Sanchez-Ramos L, Ndubisi B. Liquid-based cervical cytologic smear study and conventional Papanicolaou smears: A metaanalysis of prospective studies comparing cytologic diagnosis and sample adequacy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;185:308-317. Conventional Pap Smear  Microscopically, the uneven distribution of cellular material associated with the Conventional Pap Smear pattern is evident. Liquid Based Pap Test
ThinPrep® Characteristics Common changes associated with ThinPrep® morphology
Wet Fixation
Cell Size
Smear Pattern
Specimen Background
Historic Validation of the ThinPrep® Pap Test
Improved sensitivity in clinical trail: 65% increase in screening population, and 6% increase in high-risk population. Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are clinically regarded as the most important pathogens of the human anogenital tract and the main factor in the development of cervical and anal cancer. HPVs are a diverse group of DNA viruses involved in human disease, with more than 100 different types identified. The identification and typing of HPVs (Human Papilloma Viruses) has become increasingly challenging, due to the numerous viral types that must be detected and their role in the process of cervical neoplasia. A Pap test only indicates the possibility of infection with HPV and the possibility of changes associated with cervical cancer. For a more direct diagnosis, a molecular diagnostic system for HPV typing accurately detects different HPV subtypes, some of which are particularly aggressive and directly associated with high grade dysplasia and malignancy. Precancerous changes are found in all age groups but are particularly frequent in younger women. These changes as well as cervical cancer are some of the most successfully treated cancers when detected early. Type-specific identification of HPV DNA and the genotyping of the virus is important for disease prevention, prognosis, and treatment. Until now, an efficient method for HPV typing was not available. HPV types are categorized as “high risk” or “low risk” based on their relative risks of oncogenesis. There are over 45 different types of HPV that cause genital infections. Co-infections by multiple HPV types are likely to occur in more than 30% of HPV patients. Certain combinations of these co-infections may be more prone to cause cancer than others. Information regarding HPV co-infections can be an essential part of determining treatment options and immunotherapy. Our molecular diagnostic system identifies over 40 HPV types, especially those associated with high grade dysplasia (HSIL) and provides the necessary information for managing disease and improving patient care. Guidelines for Women Age 30 and Older A February 2004 article in Obstetrics & Gynecology was published detailing the consensus reached on management guidelines for women age 30 and older based on results from a combination of cervical cytology with High-Risk HPV DNA testing, modified by West Coast Pathology Laboratories
The combined test results should be used in conjunction with other clinical information when making patient management decisions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
