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Guidance

Cervical screening: accepting samples in laboratories

This is to help commissioners, sample takers and laboratories reduce errors associated with cervical screening sample requests.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
3 April 2017
Last updated:
25 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect new HPV sample taker training guidance

  2. Rewording of several paragraphs in the introduction and section 6.6 to reflect extension of screening interval to 5 years.

  3. CSMS call and recall system updates.

  4. Added clarification that publication was originally published by Public Health England.

  5. Amended section 6.3 to show women on routine recall taken more than 3 months ahead of schedule.

  6. Reviewed and revised in line with updated guidance on primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening implementation.

  7. Reverted to previous version until updated version ready.

  8. Reviewed and revised in line with updated guidance on primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening implementation.

  9. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Guidance for acceptance of cervical screening samples in laboratories and pathways, roles and responsibilities

HTML

Screening samples: example error codes

PDF, 127 KB, 6 pages

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Example laboratory audit report to commissioners

ODT, 10.9 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Example sample taker audit report

ODT, 8.5 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Details

The purpose of this document is to improve the quality of service provided by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) by reducing the administrative and technical errors associated with cervical screening sample requests. It includes pathways, roles and responsibilities.

Implementing this guidance will reduce:

  • the risk of people receiving incorrect screening
  • the time taken for people to receive their cervical screening test results

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