S. No.

Screening

Techniques

        Advantages

          Disadvantages

1.

Pap smear

·        Helps find cervical cancer before it spreads when it is easier to treat.

·        Early detection may mean less treatment.

·        History of widely accepted

·        Well trained and professional are needed.

·        High specificity

·        May be a false positive/false negative or even lead to death due to overdiagnosis.

·        Long time is needed for results to come

·        Systems requires time communication ensurity of test reports and follow-up of patients

·        Requires laboratory quality assurance

·        Less sensitivity

2.

HPV test

·        Can detect nearly all cases of dysplasia.

·        More effective overall due to better detection of detecting high-grade dysplasia.

·        Likely to detect changes of abnormal cell which are not cancerous cells.

·        Thus, leading to unnecessary treatment, including surgery of cervix.

3.

Visual screening for cervical neoplasia

Visual inspection with Lugol’s iodine (VILI)

·        VIA and VILI are relatively simple and less costly

·        Results are available immediately.

·        High provider variability

·        Lower specificity

·        Lack of standardization

·        Frequent retraining needed

4.

Cytology

·        The accuracy and specificity of the test are usually over 90%.

·        It is uncomfortable and painful.

·        Under poor conditions its sensitivity can be as low as 38%.

5.

Liquid-based cytology (LBC)

·        Less time is required for samples 

·        Expensive instruments

·        Less sensitivity and specificity

6.

HPV DNA testing

·        Easy and simple test

·        High specificity

·        Results not immediately available with high cost.

·        Complex laboratory requirements and specimen.

·        Low specificity