Pap smears are tests designed to detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which can be caused by a number of factors, including infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). A pap smear cannot reveal a herpes infection; separate testing is necessary to determine a herpes diagnosis.
Function
Pap smears determine if any of the cells of the cervix have become abnormal. HPV testing also may be done at the same time, which is a separate test.
Results
An abnormal pap smear result usually triggers further testing to determine what has caused the presence of abnormal cervical cells. This may consist of a follow-up pap smear or a biopsy.
Effects
Once testing has determined what has caused the abnormal pap smear result, any appropriate treatment can be pursued; this may include cancer treatment if some cervical cells have become cancerous.
Tzanck Smear
A test called a Tzanck smear can detect the presence of herpes. Like a pap smear, a sample scraped from the affected area is tested, but the two tests are unrelated.
Herpes Testing
Other types of herpes testing can be done, including viral cultures, a blood test for antibodies or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to check for the virus directly. Those who believe they may have been exposed to herpes should get tested.
Tags: abnormal smear, abnormal smear result, cells cervix, cervical cells, have become, smear result
