Exfoliative cytologic screening. The Papanicolaou test.

Exfoliative cytology, or the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, is an easily performed, noninvasive, and inexpensive procedure to screen for preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer. Women commonly seek gynecologic wellness care annually in order to receive the Pap test. However, the test's effectiveness as a screening tool for cancer of the cervix and its precursors has been questioned because of the high number of false-negative results cited in the literature. The nurse clinician needs to be refamiliarized with current techniques, methods, and nursing responsibilities in the area of exfoliative cytology in order to restore patients' and nurses' confidence in test results.