A SMEAR test has been our best defence against cervical cancer for decades.

It's been almost one hundred years since scientist Georgios Papanikolaou first discovered that it was possible to detect the difference between normal and abnormal cervical cells under the microscope.

In 1928, the Greek-born medic presented his research to a panel in Michigan where he revealed a low-cost, non-invasive procedure could be rolled out across the globe to identify pre-cancerous cells before they even develop.

What initially started out as a study into detecting physical changes caused by menopause soon took another turn when, coincidentally, one of the test patients' cells showed uterine cancer - a revelation the scientist was not expecting to discover.

However, it wasn't until 1941 that his work was truly taken seriously with it initially met with scepticism with many unconvinced a painless procedure using a cotton swab could help prevent a killer disease.

Only after the process received the support of gynaecologist Herbert Traut, in the form of a joint paper between the two men discussing the diagnostic value of the exam, was it finally accepted.

By the 1950s the examination, dubbed commonly in the country as the "pap smear" in honour of the scientist, had begun to be rolled out across the US.

Two years after Papanikolaou's death in Miami at the age of 78 in 1962, the test made its way to the UK although it wasn't until the 1980s that the national screening programme was commenced.

There have been few modifications made to the test since its initial conception in the earlier 20th century.

Today, it's thought the process has saved tens of thousands of lives in the UK alone with around 5,000 saved each year.

The Glasgow Times Don't Fear the Smear campaign has vowed to increase the uptake of the smear test around the city, with less than 65% of eligible people attending their appointment.