"HPV testing has been a remarkable advance in cervical cancer screening."

FDA experts debate timing of pap test

by Steven Reinberg, Healthday Reporter

Dr. Andrew Menzin, a gynecologic oncologist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., said that "HPV testing has been a remarkable advance in cervical cancer screening."

Its greatest value is helping to decide whether a follow-up colposcopy is needed, he said. "The idea of reversing the order of testing is an approach to try to refine and minimize who [unnecessarily] goes on to colposcopy," he said.