HPV testing is to be incorporated into the cervical cancer screening programme from April.
The change was confirmed by the publication of the NHS Cervical Screening Annual Review published on January 7.
HPV testing will mean that screening can be more effectively targeted, reducing unnecessary procedures and the anxiety that they may cause for women.
HPV testing is to be used for women with borderline or low grade cervical abnormalities.
It is intended that it will also lead to greater efficiency and accuracy across the wider NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
Following a successful transfer of cervical screening services, all Cumbria and Lancashire cervical cytology samples are now processed and reported at Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust in the Manchester Cytology.
Since the transfer of services to Central Manchester, HPV screening has been routinely provided when required on samples from Cumbria and Lancashire.
As a result women in the area benefited from the move in advance of the national guidance published last week.
The Manchester Cytology Centre also implemented Zero Tolerance for discrepancies at sample reception and unscheduled samples ahead of the recommended timescales suggested by North West QARC.
For further information, contact the Pathology Commissioning Team on cytology@northlancs.nhs.uk or the PCT Screening Programme lead.
