Pap smear test is a must for all the females as it is the ticket to a protected and alert life. It is a health-related procedure wherein the cells or tissues from the opening of the cervix are collected for a microscopic examination to detect cervical cancer.

There have been a lot of alternatives to pap smear testing. A genetic HPV test is an option but it has its downsides like it is more high priced than the regular pap smear and it tests only for HPV leaving out the cancerous and pre-cancerous cells. Mainly, all the sexually active women have HPV infection at some point in their life but it clears up on its own and therefore HPV test would also need further follow-up tests for cervical lesions. It is said that, with new technologies there will be healthcare items which will assist in very simple, self-administered tests. The smear test also has accuracy challenges as there have been situations exactly where the Pap smear reports have been standard for years but females nevertheless suffered from cervical cancer. As Pap smear testing is not extensively available, a low expense genetic test for HPV is advocated in the establishing nations.

The other frequent alternative to the standard pap smear test is the liquid-based cytology, which has been reviewed as no better than pap smear for the detection of cervical cancer precursors. In liquid-primarily based cytology, the cervical cells are collected with a classic sampling device and rinsed into a vial with preservation answer, rather than being smeared on a slide. A lot of trials demonstrated that this method is neither much more specific, nor more sensitive than the pap smear.

An additional alternative which terms pap smear tests as an outdated procedure, is the CSA blood test which is more correct, non-invasive and all round a improved option. CSA is the Cervical Particular Antigen which is the top health-related news in cancer diagnostics. This approach talks about drastic enhance in the early detection of cervical cancer and eradication of tumor just before the cancer metastasizes and hence save lives. It would be expense-helpful and presently, it is the only test which aids to monitor therapy efficacy. The working of this test is that it detects the molecule that participates in the growth of cervical cancer as those individuals have comparatively higher numbers. Medicines Online indicates that molecular levels drop to near normal range after therapy till there is recurrent illness or metastasis. This test can replace pap smear as a screening tool in future as it is gaining recognition in the laboratory industry and health-related neighborhood. The unfortunate areas exactly where pap smear is unavailable or unacceptable, CSA could be the life-saver.

With the advancing technologies, pap smear test would soon be substituted by far more less difficult and accessible techniques.