title: ASCCP Patient Management Guidelines: Pap Test Specimen Adequacy and Quality Indicators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide management guidelines according to Pap test specimen adequacy based on literature review and expert opinion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A task force named by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology conducted a literature review and discussed appropriate management. The steering committee of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and other experts reviewed the guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guidelines recommend a repeat Pap test in 12 months for most women who are 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 management for unsatisfactory Pap tests is a repeat Pap test within a short interval of 2 to 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management guidelines will help promote optimal and uniform follow-up of women's Pap tests, according to Pap test specimen adequacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. ddavey@uky.edu
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