Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-cytology-reporting-failsafe

Change description : 2025-06-24 17:24:00: Minor updates to terminology. CSMS and colposcopy discharge changes. Addition of appendix 5 and appendix 6. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-09-27 08:24:00.179054707 +00:00..2025-06-24 16:25:00.447453907 +00:00

Guidance

Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary HPV)

Guidelines covering primary HPV and primary cytology screening pathways, to avoid and manage errors (or missed screens) during the cervical screening process.

From:
NHS England
Published
1 December 2004
Last updated
2724 SeptemberJune 20242025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary HPV)

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GW-6522

HTML

Appendix 1: failsafe overview (primary HPV)

PDF, 41.9 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 2: cervical screening result and action codes (primary HPV)

PDF, 156 KB, 3 pages

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Appendix 3: example failsafe enquiry letter: colposcopy (primary HPV)

PDF, 10.1 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 4: example failsafe enquiry letter: GP (primary HPV)

PDF, 10.2 KB, 1 page

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Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary cytology)

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Appendix 1: failsafe overview (primary cytology)

PDF, 34.8 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 2: cervical screening result and action codes (primary cytology)

PDF, 80.5 KB, 2 pages

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Appendix 3: example failsafe enquiry letter: colposcopy (primary cytology)

PDF, 6.64 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 4: example failsafe enquiry letter: GP (primary cytology)

PDF, 6.52 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 5: Colposcopy discharge pathways

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Appendix 6: Colposcopy discharge list

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 43.5 KB

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Details

Commissioners, providers and healthcare professionals should use these guidelines to help avoid and manage errors or missed screens.

Two versions of this guidance are currently in use:

  • ‘Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary HPV)’ - with 4 related appendices
  • ‘Cervical screening: cytology reporting failsafe (primary cytology) - with 4 related appendices

Refer to the correct version of the guidance depending on whether primary HPV screening has been implemented or not.

The guidance covers:

  • the failsafe process
  • the role of the screening commissioner
  • call and recall
  • failsafe in primary care
  • laboratory failsafe
  • colposcopy clinics
  • cervical screening provider leads

This publication was previously published by Public Health England, which closed on 30 September 2021.

Updates to this page

Published 1 December 2004
Last updated 2724 SeptemberJune 2024 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

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Update history

2025-06-24 17:24
Minor updates to terminology. CSMS and colposcopy discharge changes. Addition of appendix 5 and appendix 6.

2024-09-27 09:23
In the details, changed ‘originally published by Public Health England’ to ‘previously published by Public Health England’.

2024-09-26 11:25
Added clarification that publication was originally published by Public Health England.