Cervical Cytology Newsletter - April 2018

**Important information for ALL cervical cytology sample takers, practice managers and reception staff**

Cytology Turnaround Time (TAT)

Cytology TATs across the country have been increasing through 2018 due to sustained high levels of demand on a screening programme that has insufficient screening capacity, and many labs now have backlogs in excess of 6 weeks.

This is due to the fact that the cervical screening programme is in transition from cytology screening to HPV primary screening in 2019, and laboratories are struggling both to retain existing screening staff and to recruit qualified screening staff as the future for these staff is uncertain, with the number of labs being reduced from over 50 to a maximum of 13 in 2019.

The current TAT in the Derby Cytology laboratory is 52 days, which requires the following actions:

  • Please advise women, at the time of taking their sample, that it will take around 8 weeks for their result letter to arrive from the date they have the test taken
  • If women contact the surgery for their result sooner than this PLEASE DO NOT advise them to contact the laboratory for outstanding results – we cannot discuss results with patients and will refer their enquiry back to your practice

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) primary screening

There is good news about the local cytology TAT - Derby Cytology have now been given approval to implement partial HPV primary screening ahead of national roll-out as mitigation for the backlog.This means that by the end of the year the backlog in the Derby lab should be cleared and we should once again be meeting the national target of getting cervical screening test results to all women within 14 days.

NHS England (North Midlands), lead commissioners for the cervical screening service, approved HPV primary screening for women covered by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire GPs only, andsent notification of this to CCGs and GPs last week.

What does HPV primary screening mean for sample takers?

Derbyshire & Nottinghamshirepractices - sample takers need to be aware that samples taken from 1st June 2018 onwards will be subject to HPV primary screening – see separate HPV primary screening newsletter.

Staffordshire, Lincolnshire & Leicestershire practices-there will be no change to current screening practices and protocols but you will see the overall TAT reduce at the same rate as Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire.

Reporting of infections in cervical screening samples

Around 85% of samples HPV primary screened will NOT have a cytology side made from the LBC sample so it will not be possible to report incidental findings of any infections present, such as Candida, Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Actinomyces-like organisms (ALOs).

Reporting of these infections is NOT a requirement of the national screening programme, and many labs have already stopped reporting them.

  • From 1st May 2018 infections will no longer be reported by Derby Cytology

Trainee sample takers’ audit forms

Would all trainee sample takers who send blue ‘audit forms’ with their samples please ensure that they also send a stamped addressed envelope with them. The laboratory receive a large number of blue forms and it is not always possible to identify where to send the completed blue forms back to, especially if they are from branch surgeries

  • Trainee sample takers - please include a return envelope with your samples

Audit forms from competent sample takers

The lab have been receiving audit forms from competent sample takers but are not able to process these as do not have the resources to do so. This is not a requirement for revalidation. Only trainee sample takers should send audit forms in with their samples.

  • Competent sample takers should self-audit samples they have taken for adequacy rates

White plastic LBC vial trays

Please can you return the empty white plastic trays that the LBC vials are supplied in to Derby Cytology lab – send back via the courier that collects your samples

  • Send back plastic vial trays, marked ‘to be returned to Derby Cytology’ please

Cytology Call & Recall

A reminder that it is PCSE (Capita) who run the national cervical screening Call & Recall system and not the laboratory. PCSE administer the Open Exeter system, send all invitation and result letters to women and deal with changes to patient details. Any queries about a woman’s recall or details should therefore be addressed to Capita and not the laboratory.

Contact details for PCSE (Capita): Tel. 0333 014 2884 / e-mail

Many thanks for your continued support and cooperation in all these matters, and please do not hesitate to contact the cytology laboratory should you have any queries:

Cytology Enquiries: 01332 789307 / 789311 (9am-5pm)