Can a Pap test come out negative and miss a lesion?

What do we mean by a negative Pap test?

A negative Pap test means that no abnormal cells were found.

Can a Pap test come out negative and miss a lesion?

Yes, that’s possible, because the cells are collected from the surface of the mucous membranes, and these are not always representative of the lesions inside the epithelium layers.

Is it possible to have more serious lesions than what the Pap test showed?

Yes, it is possible, for the reason mentioned in the previous question, but also because perhaps no cells were collected from the worse-off area.