Opportunities for Cytotechnologists in a Changing Environment

摘要

The profession of cytotechnology revolved primarily around the Papanicolaou (Pap) test until the advent of the human papillomavirus (HPV) test, automated screening technologies, and advances in molecular diagnostics. In 2012, new cervical cancer screening guidelines were implemented by the American Cancer Society, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). These guidelines set forth the following parameters: 1. Initiate Pap test screening at age 21 years, 2. Initiate cotesting with the HPV test at age 30 years. 3. Lengthen the screening interval between Pap tests: every 3 years for a negative Pap test alone and every 5 years for both negative Pap and HPV tests. 4. Stop Pap test screening at age 65 years based on 3 negative Pap tests or negative HPV test or after hysterectomy for benign disease, The change in the screening intervals alone will affect the laboratory's volume of Pap tests. Many laboratories, especially those in private hospitals and academic medical centers, have already noticed a decrease in their numbers of Pap tests. If the HPV test receives approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for primary screening in which the Pap test will be used as a triage tool for a positive HPV test, the Pap test volume will decrease even more.