Table 1. Overview of the definitions in this manuscript: screen smear (screening episode), work-up smear, and delay in diagnosis and screening interval.

Definition	Description
Screen smear	Smear taken between 1 and ⩽6 years preceding the diagnosis
Work-up smear	Smear taken maximum at 1 year preceding the diagnosis
Screening interval in Dutch programme	Once in every 5 years (between 30 and 60 years)
‘Delay’ in diagnosis	Interval between last smear and diagnosis
Delay for BMD	Cytology>18 months preceding the diagnosis
Delay for worse than BMD (>BMD)	Cytology>6 months preceding the diagnosis

Abbreviation: BMD=borderline/mild dyskaryosis.