SWAB TEST · SMART CARE POLYCLINIC, DEIRA
Pap Smear explained
Cervical screening that finds early cell changes before they can become cancer.
Order it on its own, or build your own blood test profile — 4 or more tests save up to 30–50%.
What the Pap Smear test measures
A small brush takes cells from the cervix during a short examination by a female doctor. It finds changes years before they could turn into cancer, which is why it is recommended every few years from your mid-twenties.
What the result tells you
Normal
No changes were found; you are told when your next screen is due.
Minor changes
Often clear on their own; the test is repeated or the sample is checked for HPV.
Changes that need a closer look
A colposcopy, a closer examination of the cervix, is arranged, and treatment is simple when needed.
How to prepare
- Fasting
- Not required
- Best time
- Midway between periods is best, not during a period
- Avoid before
- Intercourse for 24 to 48 hours before
- Vaginal creams or pessaries for 48 hours before
- Worth knowing
- It takes a few minutes and is done by a female gynaecologist.
What can move the result
A result outside the usual range does not on its own mean something is wrong. These are the everyday explanations a doctor considers first.
Packages that include it
Frequently asked questions
A small brush takes cells from the cervix during a short examination by a female doctor. It finds changes years before they could turn into cancer, which is why it is recommended every few years from your mid-twenties. Normal: No changes were found; you are told when your next screen is due.
Fasting: Not required. Best time: Midway between periods is best, not during a period. Avoid beforehand: Intercourse for 24 to 48 hours before; Vaginal creams or pessaries for 48 hours before. It takes a few minutes and is done by a female gynaecologist.
Commonly: your period; vaginal creams or infection; recent intercourse. A single result is not a diagnosis. Values are read against the laboratory's own reference range and alongside your history, your symptoms and the rest of the panel — which is why every package includes a doctor to go through them with you.
At Smart Care Polyclinic, 29 Doha Centre, Al Maktoum Rd, Deira, Dubai. It is included in the Well Woman Panel, or it can be ordered on its own. Walk in during opening hours or call +971 (0)4 379 3562.
Sources
Written from current guidance and reviewed 18 October 2026.
- Cervical screeningNHS
- Cervical cancerWorld Health Organization