The USPTO leads efforts to develop and strengthen both domestic and international intellectual property protection. The USPTO advises the President -through the Secretary of Commerce- and all federal agencies on national and international intellectual property policy issues, including IP protection in other countries.
A Pap smear is used to screen for cervical cancer. The Pap smear is usually done in conjunction with a pelvic exam. In women older than age 30, the Pap test may be combined with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) â a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer in some women.
Instead of smearing cervical cells onto a slide, the collected cells are sent to the lab in a vial. The liquid in the vial preserves the delicate cell detail and eliminates some of the shortcomings of the conventional pap smear â such as drying and clumping of cells. Not all liquid-based pap tests are the same.