Researchers should no longer delay implementation of Pap screening in low and middle income countries pending research into novel screening approaches

Table 1 Salary, supply, and equipment costs for Pap smears and collection devices (in 2020 US$) [13]

Category	Item	Cost per Pap smear
Salaries	Cytotechnologist screening and interpretation of Pap smear	Cytotechnologist annual salary (in 2020 US$) ÷ 20,000^a
Salaries	Pathologist interpretation of atypical Pap smear	Pathologist annual salary (in 2020 US$) ÷ 120,000^b
Supplies	Modified wooden Ayre spatula	0.06
	Alcohol fixative	0.06
	Pap smear stains	0.07
	Cover slip	0.06
	25 mm x 75 mm glass slide	0.06
	Mounting medium	0.03
Equipment	Microscope	0.04^c

^aassumes a cytotechnologist screens and interprets 20,000 Pap smears per year without any other work responsibilities
^bassumes 10% of all Pap smears screened by cytotechnologists are atypical and referred to pathologists who spend an average of 10 min interpreting each atypical smear and work 40-hour weeks for 50 weeks each year
^cassumes a new microscope costs US$8,000 and is used only to screen and interpret 20,000 Pap smears per year for 10 years

ISSN: 1750-9378