Liquid cytology: A new alternative to Pap smears is now available in America

Like the headline says, I want to point out a new method starting to be used here—a replacement for the standard Pap smear that most women get. Honestly, the old way is pretty outdated compared to the newer tech coming out.

One of these methods is called Liquid-based cytology

The error rate for Liquid-based cytology is only about 5%, whereas the standard Pap smear currently being used has an interpretation error rate of 30%.

Of course, nothing is perfect. Right now, it's mainly being used in San Francisco, but it should be rolling out to other Mayo Clinic locations across the US soon.
😢The downside? It’s more expensive. So, once again, we'll likely see either the privileged getting access first, or those who already had suspicious results from a classic Pap smear.
..

Anyway, regardless of how it rolls out, ladies—it is your right to advocate for this method when you see your doctor. Let them know you're aware of it and, just like with the swabs I mentioned before, insist on thorough checkups.

You won't have to deal with that classic excuse we've all heard: "If I do a Pap, I can't do the swabs because the sample isn't high quality enough." With this method, a single sample allows for both swabs and analysis—you can actually run up to 15 different tests from one swab, and you get the results in a few days.
😘Good luck, everyone🙂 and fight for your health.

Simply wonderful. 🙂

Do you happen to know how much more expensive this is compared to a standard Pap test? And I wonder—do any private practices actually utilize this method yet?

In any case, I am truly hopeful that we will see at least some of the private clinics adopting this technique in the near future. 🙂

I don't know... my OB-GYN didn't mention anything about it at all...

I honestly had no clue what it even was...
but once she walked me through all the benefits of this method—I'm actually really grateful she brought it up...😍 so I figured I'd share it with you guys here.

Though, honestly, private clinics in Washington, D.C. and other major US cities will probably jump on this first—partnering up with private cytologists...

Either way... I’m genuinely curious to see how this actually plays out here.🙂

I mean, I definitely remember this, $67 , back when Dad $13 was actually featured on the news over at PBS!

Hannah Bishop said:I know for a fact, $67 , back when my dad was $13 it was all over the news on PBS!

Besides, it’s not like we’re talking about a massive pile of cash you can just withdraw once a year.

When it comes to my health, I won't hesitate to spend a single cent.

I’ve always been the type to say—well, let's just say I don't have much faith in the standard Pap smear and its lack of accuracy, especially when it isn't paired with other screenings.

This is something I am genuinely curious about 👋

I suppose I should just thank God that we finally have access to more modern and precise diagnostic methods 👍

Nah, honestly... I’m just gonna wait until it finally hits the States before I head out there!

Hannah Bishop said:I know this for a fact; $67 back when my dad was $13 it was even on the news on PBS!

Are you certain about that information?😕 I am the one paying for my father's checkups at the Mayo Clinic.$83.

Well, I suppose it all depends on which specific type of Pap smear you're looking at and where you're getting it done. Obviously, you wouldn't pay $13 for a standard rapid test—you’d be paying significantly more for that. To be perfectly honest, I have never personally paid out of pocket for a Pap test $13. However, I suspect it really comes down to your workplace benefits and how much patience you actually have for waiting on results. Personally, I think paying $67 for the more precise method is definitely worth the investment 🙂

Sophia Wells72 said:It depends on the specific test and the facility. Obviously, you won't pay $13 for a rapid test; it will cost significantly more. Honestly, I have never paid for a PAP $13 in my life. However, it really comes down to where you work and how long you are willing to wait. Paying $67 for this more precise method is definitely worth it 🙂

I have no idea what you are talking about.🤷
I get my PAP and exam done once a year at the Mayo Clinic, paying out of pocket $83, and the results take about three weeks ($67 PAP + $17 exam)
What does the location have to do with anything?
I agree that paying $67 for a superior method is better, but it seems strange to me that the cost equals the PAP itself. That confuses me.😕

It really depends on whether you're using private insurance, sticking with public health services, or some other middle ground, I suppose.
In my experience with the public system, it’s been pretty straightforward: $23you get a Pap smear and usually end up waiting about a month for results. If you happen to be seeing a specialist who moves a bit faster, maybe you'll wait a week or ten days at most. That’s basically it.

With private providers, it’s obviously going to cost more—that’s just how it works—but the trade-off is that things get done quickly. For me, getting a full workup (ultrasound, Pap smear, plus both external and internal pelvic exams—including the cervical check under the speculum) at one clinic ended up costing $150, whereas at another facility, it was closer to $100. I guess the price tag really boils down to exactly what that specific exam covers.

Well, at least that’s what they were saying on the news over at ABC... I mean, if you want to see for yourself, just go find the video clip!

Well, I’m sure they *said* that—I really am—but it seems like their research was a bit lacking, because it turns out things aren't exactly uniform everywhere. I mean, I’ve personally never been charged anywhere near what they claimed, though then again, I know there are plenty of women out there who have. 😉

So, they actually brought this up on PBS today. They’re saying we'll only need to run those searches once every three years instead of doing that annual paperwork headache. I don't know, seems way too infrequent to me 🤷

Back during my first pregnancy, Dr. Kos used to mention this specific method—something done every three years that's standard practice across the European Union...
I assume he was referring to 🤷

I'm just waiting for some woman on here to actually go through with that procedure—then maybe we'll finally get some actual details on what it entails and how it works.👋

That sounds interesting, though for me, once every three years feels far too infrequent.

I have an appointment at the Mayo Clinic at the end of the week for a checkup (three months after my Mirena insertion), so I will ask the doctor directly. However, I agree that three years feels far too short.
Damn, by the time three years pass, you could be dead from cancer.😲

Hannah Bishop said:Well, that’s what they were reporting on ABC News... if you have the video, go ahead and check it out for yourself!

..if I'm following this right, they're saying the American health institute spends that much just to run a Pap smear ((just a standard Pap test, right? $13 regular cytology $67))... so it could easily end up costing us even more than that, don't you think?😁