technical error with smear test - could there be a problem with me then??

[RanToTheHills]

call me naive but I thought if a smear was abnormal I'd be told as such, i had a result back saying that there was a technical error and therefore should be repeated. Someone on here pointed out this could be a way of telling me therecould be something wrong wihth me. Should I be worried??

[carlsberg]

No, I am sure its not because there is something wrong. I had to have one redone because of an error and it was because they hadn't managed to get enough cells to examine.

[WigWamBam]

Generally if the smear is abnormal then that's what they say - certainly they do where I live. I think it's more likely that "technical errors" means that the sample wasn't taken correctly, or that there weren't enough cells, or that the slide broke.

Saying it's a technical error is probably meant to be more reassuring than simply telling you that there's a problem.

[RanToTheHills]

thanks, that's what I'd thought but an MNer (in good faith, I'm sure as she'd had a scare) implied that it could indicate a problem with me.

[NicJane]

With all the smears and tests I have had in the past 12 months (potted history: abnormal smears - tests - more tests - biopsy - bad news - hysterectomy - all clear) I have always been told what was happening - so the abnormal tests were reported as just that - no euphemisms, no cagey language. I would say that "technical error" was exactly that. For some reason they can't test your sample so have to get another. Its easy to say don't worry - but don't worry!

[RanToTheHills]

thanks for the reassurance and sorry to hear you've had such a time of it,Nicjane.

[NicJane]

Glad to help!