Screening of cervical cancer is unique in that it can prevent further development by treating pre-invasive stages. Well-organized screening programs can reduce both the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. In Norway the incidence of cervical cancer is reduced by 25 % and mortality by 50 % since the national screening program was introduced in 1995. Cervical cancer screening has led to a decrease in incidence of cervical cancer by 60–70 %. A cervical smear is taken every three years on women between 25-69 years in the Norwegian Cevical Cancer Screening Program. The sensitivity of a cervical smear is relatively low (55–80 %), but the specificity is high. This means that a negative test will not exclude pre-stages of cancer or invasive cancer. Cytology testing should never be the only diagnostic tool in patients with symptoms. With a positive cytological diagnosis, a histological test will show the equivalent or a more serious diagnosis in 80–90 % of cases. A cervical sample can be taken as a conventional smear or as fluid-based cytology. Fluid-based cytology is now the preferred method. The method allows HPV testing on the same sample and enables HPV testing as a primary screening method in the future. The quality of the sample depends more on the technique of the practitioner than on the devices used for collection. It is important to read the instructions carefully. Incorrect specimen collection is a frequent cause of false negative tests. Citations are important for a journal to get impact factor. Impact factor is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to recent articles published in the journal. The impact of the journal is influenced by impact factor, the journals with high impact factor are considered more important than those with lower ones. This information can be published in our peer reviewed journal with impact factors and are calculated using citations not only from research articles but also review articles (which tend to receive more citations), editorials, letters, meeting abstracts, short communications, and case reports.