The Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) has been approved by the FDA since 1996 for screening for cervical cancer.
The cells from the uterine cervix are collected in the same way as in the conventional Papanicolaou test and transferred into a liquid medium.
Advantages
The test is more reliable and easier to be interpreted compared to the conventional test Papanicolaou. It is estimated that the LBC increases the sensitivity of screening for cervical cancer by 25%. This is crucial especially in difficult cases.
Another important advantage of the LBC is that it allows for additional tests to be performed such as HPV typing test and tests for sexually transmitted diseases (Chlamydia, ureoplasma, herpes etc.)