The PAP test

Norwegian health authorities recommend that all women between the ages of 25 and 69 have a Pap test done every three years. The Pap test can disclose cell changes that can indicate abnormal cells that might progress to cervical cancer. Effective treatment for severe cell changes is available today. The Cancer Registry, which runs NCCSP, sends letters to women between 25 and 69 years old who have a test taken less often than every third year, and also to women who have not taken a repeat test after cell changes. The Cancer Registry registers all cell tests from the cervix authorised by the Cancer Registry Regulations. http://www.lovdata.no/for/sf/ho/xo-20011221-1477.html.

A Pap test is taken during a gynecological examination. The examination takes a few minutes and can give some discomfort. The cell test itself is done through use of a speculum and brush, where surface cells are scraped from the cervix.

You can make an appointment at your General practitioner (GP) or a gynecologist. As a rule, if you wish to go to a gynecologist you usually need a referral from your GP. The doctor does a gynecological examination and takes samples from the cervix. The Cancer Registry does not do these examinations and has no lists of gynecologists.

Your doctor will receive the test result from the laboratory within two weeks. The Cancer Registry receives test results once a month. In some cases the Cancer Registry sends letters to women who have taken a test because the results are not registered at the Registry when the letters are sent.

All Pap smears taken by doctors are sent to a laboratory for analysis. Test results are sent to the doctor who then informs you of the findings.The laboratory sends a copy of the results to the Cancer Registry.

The Cancer Registry sends letters to women between 25-69 years old who have had a Pap test taken less often than every third year, and also to women who have not taken a repeat test after cell changes. If you have a Pap test more often than every third year, you will not get a letter from us. Neither will you get a letter if you have reserved yourself against this, or if your cervix has been removed.

Name, address, date of birth and the test result which is registered by a code, the test laboratory and the community you lived in when the test(s) was/were taken. The screening programme does not register any other type of health information about you.

Only especially authorised personnel have access to information about you, and all use is subject to strict rules regarding confidentiality. The database is located at the Cancer Registry of Norway and is physically secured according to strict regulations. Only a few employees have direct access through a personal code and only as part of their regulatory duties.

First of all, the information is used to be able to run the programme and it facilitates mail communication. In addition, the information is used for research on cervical cancer. It also contributes to quality assurance and in evaluation of the programme. Therefore all information is equally valuable, regardless of your age. In research projects all information about you such as name, personal identification number and address are replaced by a code.

See Reservation on this website.

The Cancer Registry is dependent on all test results, also the normal ones, in order to run the NCCSP. It is also necessary in order to develop and assure the quality, and to reach the aims of the programme.

The aims of the NCCSP is to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer through identifying and treating abnormal cells that might progress to cancer. All information is therefore of great value in evaluation and in quality assurance, and to develop the programme in order to ensure effective healthcare with fewest possible disadvantages.