Denisedds is correct.
If you want the history, check out this site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgios_Pa…The Papanicolaou test is named after the pathologist who pioneered this screening test for cervical cancers.
It is simple. Scrape some cells off the cervix, stain them, and look at them under a microscope.
The result is an opinion by a trained observer - a pathologist.
As with any opinion - there can be errors. The results are a best guess.
Medicine is not black and white. There are gray areas.
Source(s):
MD medical oncologist - cancer specialist physician
