UMC Offers New, More Effective Pap Test

Aug. 17, 2000


University Medical Center (UMC) has a new, more effective test to detect cervical cancer and pre-cancers.

Clinical trials of the ThinPrep Pap Test, of which some were conducted at UMC, imply the test may be nearly 65 percent more effective in detecting lesions than the standard Pap smear.

"Experience suggests there may be significantly improved detection of precancerous lesions, which will save lives, suffering and treatment costs," said gynecologist Dr. Kenneth D. Hatch. Hatch is one of the clinical trail leaders for the ThinPrep Pap Test at UMC and head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the UA College of Medicine.

In the normal Pap test, a clinician scrapes the patient's cervix with a collection device and applies a portion of the cells onto a microscopic slide. Problems arise because the specimens are often tainted with debris, such as blood and mucus, which cloud cell visibility.

With the ThinPrep Pap test, the clinician collects the sample the same way, but rinses the collection device into a vial, capturing nearly the entire sample. This process ensures a representative cell sample is on the microscopic slide while reducing blood, mucus and non-diagnostic debris.


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