Smear results

[ICanPluck]

Got my results this morning from my smear test just over 2 weeks ago (GP did say they were coming back fast)

It says that the 'laboratory were unable to read the results' and have requested I book a repeat smear 6 months from now.

Shitting it. My first smear, is this quite normal?

Yes perfectly normal. I have had at least 2 of mine came back this way. Subsequent smears were fine and could be 'read'. Nothing to worry about at all.

Oh thanks so much :) I literally have just sighed with relief! Has made me wonder why they don't want me to rebook it as soon as though. If they were unable to read the results, shouldn't they want another sample soon after in case they may have found something abnormal on my first smear if they had been able to read it? Odd system!

Hi
I work in a screening lab.
The reason why you're asked to wait awhile (at least 3 months) to have another smear, is to allow the cervical 'skin' time to regrow. If it's done too soon the test can then have insufficient cells.

The reasons for unsuitable/unreadable samples are usually in one or more of the following (not in order of occurence just how they came to mind):

1. sample leaked
2. sample taker had technical problems in visualising the cervix or carrying out a full sweep of the cervix
3. insufficient cells for a proper reading
4. cells from the immune system obscuring/replacing the cervical cells (this can happen if there has been recent inflammation e.g. after candida)

In any of the above if we see cells we think are abnormal then we would report it as abnormal, regardless of how many of them there are.

Hope this has been useful.

Agree with Bela, I worked in cervical screening a couple of years ago. Even smears that are very scanty are screened in full, just in case.

Just to add though, if there is an issue with the smear it isn't always the laboratory's fault. It can just be "one of those things" unfortunately. My first ever smear was inadequate and the practice nurse told me that it was the laboratory's fault - she implied that they had lost the sample! They hadn't, there just wasn't enough cells to report it safely, and in that case it was safer to do another smear.

I just had a call from the nurse after my smear as mine came back inadequate and I have to wait 3 months for the cells to be replaced. She did mention that when I had the smear there was a lot of dicharge that could have prevented her sweeping the cells that they require she pretty much said the same as Belalugosiinstripes so please don't worry it does happen from time to time :-)