The present invention provides a method of using Raman spectroscopy for identification of low grade cervical cytology cases likely to progress to high grade/cancer. The Applicant has found that high quality Raman spectra can be successfully acquired from morphologically normal appearing cells from negative, LSIL and HSIL Thinprep® specimens and different grades of cervical pre-cancer can be separated with good sensitivities and specificities. Raman spectroscopy can further identify different categories of the LSIL cases i.e., whether they are likely to regress to negative or progress to HSIL cytology.