Guidance

Cervical screening: accepting samples in laboratories

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

Applies to England

Documents

Screening samples: example error codes

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Example laboratory audit report to commissioners

Example sample taker audit report

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

Updates to this page

Published 3 April 2017
Last updated 425 JulyAugust 20252026 href="#full-history">+ show Show all updates
  1. Rewording of several paragraphs in the introduction and section 6.6 to reflect extension of screening interval to 5 years.

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