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
27 September 2024 — See all updates

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)

HTML

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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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 27 September 2024 + show all updates

  1. In the details, changed 'originally published by Public Health England' to 'previously published by Public Health England'.

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

  3. Added pre-existing guidance for the primary cytology screening pathway.

  4. We have updated this guidance to reflect the implementation of the primary HPV screening pathway.

  5. Updated guidance from 2004.

  6. First published.

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