Smear test results - anyone else notice the language has changed?

[Gunnerbean]

Three years ago I received my letter with my result which said "your recent test result was normal" it then went on to say "we'll call you again in three years time" and nothing more.

Three years on, they called me, I went for teh tests two weeks ago and today I got the letter with the result which said "your recent test result appered to be normal". It then went on to say something along the lines of "cervical screening like many other medical tests can't spot every potential abnormality and that if you expereince any changes or abnormalities yourself you shouldn't wait for your next test but go straight to your GP".

Is this change in language just a sign of the times and down to the NHS wanting/needing to cover it's back more these days and not wanting to make the sorts of unequivocal statements it made three years ago or what?

The wording is more truthful.

It's a fairer reflection of what is a screening, not a diagnostic test.
I agree science teacher, the test isn't perfect and anyone who has symptoms shouldn't put off seeing their GP because they recently had a negative Pap test.
If you look at the NHS CSP website www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical down the right hand side there's a link that says publications. One of the more recent ones was a guidance about invitation and results letters.
I work in a screening lab Btw.

It's not that it 'appeared' to be normal, it's that the normal result they are sending you is hopefully from the sample taken from YOU.

cancerscreening.org.uk/cervical/publications/nhscsp26.html
cancerscreening.org.uk/cer vical/publications/nhscsp27.html

Those are the links to the reviews undertaken by Cancer Research which is what the information going out to people before and after a test should be based on.