HPV test better at detecting cancer than Pap? More @ http://bit.ly/aulthpv. The Pap smear -- also called Pap test -- is part of the standard annual wellness exam for women's health and used as a first step in detecting cervical cancer. But according to a recent article published in the International Journal of Cancer, the Pap test may not provide reliable results for certain types of cancer that are harder to detect. Cervical Cancer -- Can Be Hard to Detect http://www.emoryhealthsciblog.com/?p=4185