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??

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

Glad to help!