Optical probe would speed cervical cancer screening

17 Jun 2002

Women often wait weeks and undergo additional tests to confirm the results of an initial abnormal Pap smear, a test used to screen for cervical cancer. As a result of work done at Sandia National Laboratory, another test may soon be available that could provide more immediate results.

The prototype device relies on differences in the way that normal and abnormal cervical tissues absorb and emit light to detect cellular abnormalities.