PAP SMEAR - The Papanicolaou smear (PAP test or PAP smear). A smear taken from the uterine cervical mucosa to detect cancer of this tissue. This screening test for cervical cancer should be performed regularly (every 1-2 years) after age 18 or at the onset of sexual activity. In most cases, annual screening is recommended in those who become sexually active in their teenage years, have more than one sexual partner in their lifetime, have a history for genital warts or a sexually transmitted disease, or a history for a prior abnormal PAP smear.