Incidence of Pap Test Abnormalities Within 3 Years of a Normal Pap Test—United States, 1991-1998

Declines in cervical cancer incidence and mortality reported in the United States since the 1950s have been attributed to early detection and treatment of precancerous and cancerous lesions through the use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test (1). More than 50 million Pap tests are performed each year (2); however, guidelines about the frequency of testing in women with a history of normal test results are inconsistent (3-5). To determine the incidence of cervical cytologic abnormalities following a normal Pap test, 1991-1998 data from the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) were analyzed for this report (6). The findings indicated that within 3 years of a normal Pap test result, severe cytologic abnormalities were uncommon, and incidence rates were similar among women screened 1, 2, and 3 years following a normal Pap test.