What are the tests for cervical cancer screening?

  Cervical cancer is a cancer that seriously endangers women’s life and health, and it is the fourth most common type of cancer among women worldwide and the second most common type of cancer among women in China. Cervical cancer is the only cancer with a clear cause and the only cancer that can be thoroughly prevented and treated through early screening and early detection, so early screening is very important. The main screening items include: 1. Cervical exfoliation cytology: There are two types of screening tests: Pap smear and liquid-based thin-layer cytology (TCT). The process of examination is to scrape the epithelium of the cervical canal with a “cell brush”, using the friction of the small brush to dislodge the epithelial cells, and then remove them; rotate the “cell brush” to evenly coat the specimen attached to the small brush on the slide, and examine the cervical under the microscope. The specimen is then spread evenly on the slide and examined under a microscope to see if there is a lesion.  2.Cervical exfoliative cell HPV-DNA test: The main cause of cervical cancer is persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV infection is very common and is mostly transient. Cervical exfoliative cell HPV-DNA testing combined with cytology can effectively improve the accuracy of cervical lesion screening and can be used as a primary screening method.  3. VIA-VILI screening method: Acetic acid combined with iodine staining of the cervix followed by visual observation of color changes to assess the lesion site. This test method is affected by many factors and the test results may be biased. It needs to be performed in combination with colposcopy or high-risk HPV test.  4.Colposcopy: Colposcopy has now become a necessary procedure for imaging screening of cervical cancer. After positive results of cytological examination and HPV examination, colposcopy is then used to assist in confirming the diagnosis, but not as a preliminary screening method.  5.Histopathological examination: It can be divided into cervical biopsy and conization, which is the gold standard for detecting cervical cancer. However, it is not used as a preliminary screening method.  6.Cervical cancer biological markers: their content and level are directly related to tumor occurrence and development, and can be used as auxiliary markers for cervical cancer screening.  In summary, cervical cancer screening usually requires cytological examination and HPV test first, and colposcopy for biopsy if HPV test is positive.