A simple way to detect cervical cancer in women. Speculum is used to widen the vagina allowing access to the cervix. Exfoliate and peeling and sloughed off tissue or cells are collected from the cervix stained and examined

Papanicolaou test [Pap Smear] *traditional paps, cells are spread on a glass slide and then sprayed with a fixative and sent to the lab for analysis *In newer paps, such as sure path and thinprep, specimens are obtained and then rinsed in a liquid solution