title: ASCCP patient management guidelines: Pap test specimen adequacy and quality indicators.
abstract: Our objective was to provide management guidelines according to Papanicolaou (Pap) test specimen adequacy based on literature review and expert opinion. A task force named by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) conducted a literature review and discussed appropriate management. The Steering Committee of the ASCCP and other experts reviewed the guidelines. The guidelines recommend a repeated Pap test in 12 months for most women undergoing routine annual/biennial screening if the current Pap test is negative but either lacks an endocervical/ transformation zone component or is partially obscured. Indications for considering an earlier repeat are also provided. The preferred managementfor unsatisfactory Pap tests is a repeated Pap test within a short interval of 2 to 4 months. The management guidelines will help promote optimal and uniform follow-up of women according to Pap test specimen adequacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: Diane D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: R Marshall
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birdsong
authors.forename: Henry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Darragh
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Elgert
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*