Guidance

Cervical screening: cytology samples external quality assessment

External quality assessment scheme for the preparation and staining of cervical liquid based cytology samples.

• From: NHS England
• Published: 31 August 2016
• Last updated: 8 October 2026
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  1. 8 October 2026

     Updates are reflected on the summary of changes page

  2. 6 October 2025

     A full write up of the changes is listed in the HTML summary of changes document.

  3. 26 September 2024

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

  4. 20 May 2024

     Updated technical external quality assessment (EQA) scheme and formatted as a HTML doc. A full write up of the changes is listed in the HTML summary of changes document.

  5. 31 August 2016

     First published.

Documents

Cervical screening: technical external quality assessment (EQA) scheme

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Summary of changes for Technical EQA

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Details

This publication outlines the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the preparation and staining of cervical liquid based cytology samples.

It provides information about:

• EQA scheme design
• interpretation of results
• requirements and responsibilities for participants
• principles and methodology of operation