Final answer:
The Pap smear is a diagnostic test used to examine cells from the cervix for any changes indicating abnormalities such as cervical cancer or infections. A cytotechnologist processes the sample, and it may also include HPV testing when necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diagnostic procedure in which a sample of cells from the cervix and vagina are removed and examined microscopically for abnormalities is called a Pap smear. During this test, a doctor collects a small sample of cells from the uterine cervix of a patient. The sample is then sent to a medical lab where a cytotechnologist applies a special stain to the cells and examines them under a microscope. The purpose of this examination is to look for any changes that could indicate the presence of cervical cancer or a microbial infection.
HPV testing is often conducted concurrently with a Pap smear using a method called liquid-based cytology (LBC). This allows the use of the same sample for both Pap cytology and HPV testing including genotyping. In Pap smears, HPV can be identified by the presence of cells known as koilocytes, which exhibit a distinct perinuclear halo—a clear appearance around an atypical, hyperchromatic nucleus.