[Waiting time for the first colposcopic examination in women with abnormal Papanicolaou test].

Purpose: To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination).