What is a pap smear nowadays, and how is it different than years ago? my doc isn't using microscope slides anymore.

Good!: The days of glass slides and hairspray are long gone! the newer liquid based pap tests are much more accurate and allow for hpv cotesting. Most women with a history of normal pap testing only need screening once every 3 years depending on risk factors.

Cell monolayers: Current method remove most of the debris from cervical scrapings and deposit the cells in a monolayer on a slide thus making the process of examining slides more effective. The doctor taking the "pap smear" puts the scrapping in a special fluid that is processed by the pathology laboratory to make monolayer cell slides.