Thin-Prep Pap . . . - Cancer: Breast Message Board

KimRick · 10-01-2003, 09:59 AM

What is a Thin-Prep and what does it test for? Please advise.

SmallChange · 10-01-2003, 10:29 AM

A thin-prep is a relatively new way to prepare and exam the results from a pap test. Instead of smearing the tissue sample directly onto a slide to examine under a microscope, the tissue is "washed" into a preserving fluid and sent to the lab. Once there, the extraneous blood and mucosa is rinsed away and all that's spread on the microscope slide is the thin sample of sqamous cells for examination -- hence the name "thin prep."

The actual experience for you is no different than a conventional pap, but the cells can be seen much clearer in the lab and the result of thin prep paps are generally more accurate than conventional pap results.

If your first abnormal pap was a conventional sample and it came back as abnormal, they will generally order the follow-up pap as a thin prep so they can get a more accurate reading.

I hope that helps.

SmallChange · 10-01-2003, 10:31 AM

Oops -- to finish answering your question: The thin prep tests for the same thing a conventional pap tests for -- the presence of abnormal squamous cells on the surface of the cervix -- or dysplasia, also known as pre-cancerous lesions.

PaNik5717 · 10-01-2003, 10:42 AM

What Small Change says is right. The Thin Prep is a good follow-up before referring women for a colposcopy. There can be a lot of false positives on the regular pap test and then too many women get referred for more expensive and invasive procedures.

Since they have the sample in the solution and it's not getting damaged or dried out, I think they can do the HPV test, too. My doc did the thin prep the other day - I had no idea - and she told me she is still waiting on the HPV results. I already know I have HPV, but this is a new doc, so I am happy she was thorough.

KimRick · 10-01-2003, 11:48 AM

I had a regular pap about a year ago and it came back abnormal. I went in for the biopsy and after that I was told that I would have to have surgery to remove the pre-cancerous cells hanging out in my cervix. To make a long story short, I lost my job one week to the day before I was supposed to have surgery and my insurance ended the same day that my employment did, so I've been trying to get medicaid since (that was this last Feb & I have medicaid now - woohoo!). Anyways, I'm still going to go in for my yearly check up and to renew the script for my birth control; I made the appointment for Oct. 17th and the nurse asked me if I wanted a Thin-Prep. So I said ok. Does the Thin-Prep detect HPV or is that a special test that I have to request for?