The present application provides a system for analyzing a PAP smear sample or a biopsy sample on a slide. The system suitably comprises a controller, a stage for receiving the slide, a microscope for viewing the slide and a Raman spectroscopy device. The Raman spectroscopy device shares the central optical axis of the microscope. The controller is adapted to cause the stage to move an identified area of interest on the slide to be in line with the central optical axis and to cause a spectrum to be obtained by the Raman spectroscopy device for the area of interest. An analysis module is then used to determine whether the spectrum falls within one or more predefined classes of cell. The application also describes a method which consolidates the sample in a centrifuge to pellet form. The pellet is then analysed using Raman spectroscopy, without the requirement for microscopic analysis and extendable to a fibre optic probe modality.
