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Original poster

Anyone had a smear test recently?

25 replies

Comps83 · 14/03/2017 16:59

If so how long did you wait for the results as it's been three weeks and I'm sick of rushing home to nothing and I don't remember waiting this long before. Starting to stress me out.

OP posts:
LavenderRains · 15/03/2017 20:44

I think mine took a week. Why don't you ring the surgery and ask them as they also get a copy. I'm sure no news is good news!

anyoldname76 · 15/03/2017 20:49

mine took about 3 weeks just b4 Christmas, the way id see it is that they'd ring you if something was urgent

Mysillydog · 15/03/2017 22:04

About 2 weeks - and I got an inadequate sample so I have the joy of a repeat test in a few months. I'm not too worried about the results because I think I'm low risk.

I would wait four weeks and then chase it in case your results have got lost.

Privateandconfidentialplease · 15/03/2017 22:06

Mine took 2 weeks last month. I would call the surgery as your letter may have just got lost.

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 15/03/2017 22:08

A week here too. I would ring your surgery to see if they have the results.

DottyGiraffe · 15/03/2017 22:10

6 weeks!
Was told 2 because they were taking longer (usually has been a week) but it took 6.

TwatteryFlowers · 15/03/2017 22:42

I had one at Christmas and it took about month.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 15/03/2017 23:01

Mine took 2-3 weeks. I was starting to get concerned. The letter arrived last week - so v recently. All fine.

Twopeapods · 15/03/2017 23:06

Our area says 4-6 weeks but it took about 3. Nurse said it depends on workload at the time.
I would ting surgery and ask.

Meandyouandyouandme · 15/03/2017 23:08

I was told 3 weeks, and it was nearly four. I'd forgotten to be honest, but it's not good to wait too long if you are worried.

ageingrunner · 15/03/2017 23:14

Not recently, but it usually takes about 3 weeks. I'm going for one in a couple of weeks anyway.

Ehsamy · 16/03/2017 00:55

I was wondering where mine was so I rang GP surgery. They had the results on screen.

MrsCobain · 16/03/2017 01:36

Maybe be took four days!! I'm in the States though and it cost a shit ton so maybe it was a more advanced test.

MrsCobain · 16/03/2017 01:37

Mine not maybe. It was possibly even 3 days!

Brokenbutbreathing · 16/03/2017 02:25

(In the U.K.) about a month. Had forgotten all about it!

BradleyPooper · 16/03/2017 03:26

I had an envelope in my mailbox within 3 days .... also in the USA. It's normal here to have one every year too but I wonder if that's a money making scheme by the medical centers and labs....

MrsCobain · 16/03/2017 11:15

That's interesting Bradley, they say every 3 or 4 years where I am!

ILikeyourHairyHands · 16/03/2017 11:21

I had one on Valentine's Day (romantic) and got the results last week, so just over three weeks here, the nurse did say if there were any irregularities the clinic would contact me directly which I imagine would have happened sooner, so I guess no news is good news!

BelaLug0si · 16/03/2017 23:46

The sample taker should really tell you at your appointment what the turnaround time currently is, so you know when you should get your result.
Some labs are taking 6-7 weeks because there's a shortage of trained staff.
Contrary to peoples' views, abnormal results don't get reported any quicker - this is because until someone looks at the sample, no-one knows if the cells on it are abnormal.
Once your sample has been prepared (the cells are processed with dyes to make them easier to read and put onto a glass slide), the slides wait their turn to be read. It's different to other pathology tests like blood samples which get loaded onto machines and then it can be releasing the results that takes time.
They are usually done in date taken order, i.e. the oldest ones first.
If you do have an abnormality found in your sample, and it needs investigation, that's when you may hear a bit quicker as the colposcopy clinics like to get people booked.

OP - suggest you ring your surgery and ask what the current turnaround time is for your lab. They should have this information.

ohmygodyouguys · 16/03/2017 23:50

I had my test last week, was told results could be up to six weeks but was usually sooner. They've always come within a few weeks though.

Original poster
Comps83 · 21/03/2017 18:18

So results finally came back normal, but no HPV result though?

OP posts:
KingIrving · 21/03/2017 19:19

No news , good news. I had one 10 days ago and my GP called me yesterday because it was abnormal.

terrylene · 21/03/2017 20:18

So results finally came back normal, but no HPV result though?

They will only do the HPV test if the cytology is borderline - HPV triage. Unless you are in a test area for Primary HPV testing. Primary HPV testing everywhere should be brought in some time around 2019. phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2017/01/31/deciding-how-best-to-roll-out-hpv-testing-as-the-primary-cervical-screening-test/

Original poster
Comps83 · 21/03/2017 21:10

Nurse deffo said they tested for HPV. but nothing on the letter, just said come back in three years. I still live in the same area and last test had negative HPV result.

OP posts:
terrylene · 21/03/2017 21:25

Maybe the cells looked slightly abnormal last time and looked ok this time. They do not do it routinely.

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