How to Take and Prepare A Cervical Smear

The best time to take a cervical smear is mid cycle but a smear can be taken at any time even if the woman is bleeding if there a clinical reason for taking one or if there is doubt that she will return mid cycle. Smears should not be taken during pregnancy or in the post natal period unless the woman has never had a smear, a smear is due/overdue, symptoms are present or the cervix appears abnormal.
  • The patient usually lies in the dorsal position. The cervix must be visualised using a bi-valve speculum that averts the lips of the vagina exposing the transformation zone. Ideally you should not palpate the cervix prior to taking a smear but occasionally it may be necessary to perform a gentle vaginal examination to locate the cervix prior to insertion of the speculum.
  • Do not use lubricant on the gloves or speculum.
  • Do not wipe off any discharge or mucus from the cervix before taking smears.
  • Insert the ThinPrep broom into the cervical os and rotate clockwise five times through 360° of the circumference of the cervix. The cellular material on the broom should be fixed immediately by rinsing the broom into the PreservCyt solution in the ThinPrep vial and dislodging the cells from the broom by pushing the bristles 10 times into the base of the vial.  Then swirl the broom vigorously in the solution.  Remove the broom and discard it following Health and Safety protocols. Screw the cap onto the specimen pot so that the black line on the cap and the black line on the pot are lined up. 
  • Record the clinical findings on SCCRS ensuring every section is completed and attach the SCCRS label to the pot Place the specimen pot in a plastic specimen bag. 
For further information, a CD-ROM entitled Liquid Based Cytology Education Programme for Smear Takers is available from NHS Scotland. It is produced by NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.