Greetings.

PPV is positive predictive value in the pap smear examination. The pap smear can have standard error and have around 70% of positive predictive value for the detection of the abnormal cells.

Hope this helps you. Please feel free for follow up questions.

Dr. Arun

Hello,

There are various screening tools for detecting the cervix abnormalities (especially to look for the abnormal changes in the cells or malignancy) like;

1) cytology, : see the cells under the microscope.

2) screening colposcopy, ; look by an instrument

3) visual inspection with acetic acid, change color in presence of abnormal cells

4) visual inspection with Lugol's Iodine,

5) cervicography and

6) Hybrid Capture II

All of these above tests are not full proof and so is the PEP smear examination. This is the reason they are assigned positive predictive value and standard error.

Hope this helps you. Please feel for your further queries.

Dr. Arun