frottis

Frottis is a medical term for a smear test in which cells are collected from a body surface or cavity and spread on a glass slide for microscopic examination. The most common use is the cervical smear, known in English as the Pap test, which is a screening tool for cervical cancer and precincts of cervical cell abnormalities. In French-speaking contexts the term frottis cervico-utérin is widely used.

Procedure and techniques vary. In cervical sampling, cells are collected from the transformation zone of the cervix using a spatula or cytobrush, then spread on a slide and fixed for staining, most commonly with Papanicolaou stain. Modern practice often uses liquid-based cytology, where cells are collected into a preservative solution before processing. The slide is examined by a cytologist or pathologist to identify abnormal cells or signs of infection.

Interpretation of results follows standardized reporting systems that categorize findings as normal, inflammatory changes, or varying degrees of atypia and lesions. Abnormal results may lead to follow-up testing, repeat cytology, or diagnostic procedures such as colposcopy and biopsy. HPV testing may be performed alongside cytology or as a follow-up depending on age and risk factors.

While frottis is a valuable screening modality, it has limitations, including sampling variability and interpretive subjectivity. A negative result does not guarantee absence of disease, and screening intervals are determined by guidelines that balance test performance with patient risk factors. Frottis are also used in other sites for cytology or infectious disease testing, though the cervical application is the most widely known.