Collection

Cervical screening: professional guidance

Standards and guidance for healthcare professionals, managers and commissioners working in the NHS cervical screening programme.

• From: NHS England and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Published: 1 February 2004
• Last updated: 31 July 2023 — See all updates

Programme pathway

• Cervical screening: care pathway
  • 18 August 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening pathway requirements specification
  • 16 August 2021
  • Guidance

Liquid based cytology (LBC)

• Cervical screening: training to use a new cytology system
  • 12 August 2019
  • Guidance

Programme management

• Cervical screening: role of the cervical screening provider lead
  • 26 March 2018
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: programme and colposcopy management
  • 5 January 2023
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: call and recall administration best practice
  • 7 June 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: removing women from routine invitations
  • 20 September 2019
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: cytopathology standards and evaluation criteria
  • 1 January 2013
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary HPV)
  • 17 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: primary HPV screening implementation
  • 22 February 2019
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: programme specific operating model
  • 24 August 2021
  • Guidance

Audit

The document collection on cervical screening programme data contains the NHS Cervical Screening Programme invasive cervical cancer audits.

• Cervical screening: auditing procedures
  • 29 September 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: audit coding guide
  • 1 March 2013
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: disclosure of audit results toolkit
  • 20 October 2021
  • Guidance

Laboratory standards and quality assurance

• Cervical screening: acceptable HPV test systems
  • 4 January 2023
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: laboratory testing for human papillomavirus
  • 25 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: cytology samples external quality assessment
  • 31 August 2016
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: gynaecological cytopathology EQA scheme
  • 17 September 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: histopathology reporting handbook
  • 28 September 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: cytology improvement guide
  • 1 January 2009
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: accepting samples in laboratories
  • 26 October 2020
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: pathway for acceptance of new HPV tests
  • 2 November 2020
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: laboratory HPV testing and cytology services
  • 28 September 2021
  • Guidance

Colposcopy equipment reports

• Cervical screening: dynamic spectral imaging system (DySIS)
  • 1 October 2012
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: electrical safety for electrosurgery procedures
  • 1 December 2004
  • Guidance

Primary care

Cervix chart for sample takers

A chart available on a one per room basis, for nurses and GPs taking cervical screening samples. Order here (electronic copy not available).

• NHS Cervical Screening Programme – Good practice guidance for sample takers
  • 31 July 2023
  • Guidance
• NHS Cervical screening: cervical sample taker training
  • 14 September 2023
  • Guidance
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women under 25: clinical assessment
  • 1 March 2010
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: supporting women with learning disabilities
  • 23 April 2019
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: support for people who find it hard to attend
  • 16 August 2021
  • Guidance
• Cervical screening: ideas for improving access and uptake
  • 3 March 2020
  • Guidance

Primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening

Primary HPV screening is currently being implemented across the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Professionals involved in delivering primary HPV screening should use these guidance documents.

• Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary HPV)
  • 17 July 2019
  • Guidance

Published 1 February 2004
Last updated 31 July 2023 + show all updates

1. 31 July 2023

   Added guidance in collection

2. 4 January 2023

   Correct error in first paragraph, Section 4.6 [even if colposcopy was normal]

3. 24 February 2022

   Addition to collection of Cervical screening: ideas for improving access and uptake

4. 29 September 2021

   Added 'Cervical screening: care pathway' and 'Cervical screening pathway requirements specification'.

5. 26 May 2021

   Added link to 'Cervical screening: support for people who find it hard to attend'.

6. 26 April 2021

   Addition of 'cervical screening: disclosure of audit toolkit' to the audit section.

7. 24 October 2019

   Added link to cervical screening programme data document collection, containing the NHS Cervical Screening Programme invasive cervical cancer audits.

8. 20 September 2019

   Added Cervical screening: laboratory HPV testing and cytology services document.

9. 5 July 2019

   Added 'Cervical screening: pathway for acceptance of new HPV tests'.

10. 6 February 2019

    Added new guidance on primary HPV screening implementation.

11. 16 April 2018

    Added new guidance: the role of the cervical screening provider lead.

12. 10 October 2017

    Added supporting women with learning disabilities guidance to primary care section.

13. 9 August 2017

    Added programme specific operating model.

14. 14 December 2016

    Added Cervical screening: cervical sample taker training.

15. 31 August 2016

    Added National external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the preparation and staining of cervical liquid based cytology samples: scheme protocol.

16. 16 May 2016

    Added Cervical screening: training to use a new cytology system.

17. 23 March 2016

    Added Cervical screening: gynaecological cytopathology external quality assessment to the collection.

18. 1 February 2004

    First published.