HPV tests being added to cervical screening

Monday 23 July 2018

Testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) is being added to the routine screening when a woman has her cervical smear test.

The Committee for Health and Social Care said this test will specifically look for the presence of HPV bringing the Bailiwick's testing programme into line with UK National guidelines.

HSC said this change is fully supported by the local Cervical Screening Advisory Group and that the new screening method is designed to work together with the HPV vaccination programme to help reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.

HPV is a common virus that can cause changes to cells in the cervix, which can develop into cervical cancer. 

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV and HSC said the latest medical and scientific evidence shows that testing for the virus is more effective at detecting cervical abnormalities at an earlier stage and can therefore identify those women at higher risk of cervical cancer sooner. 

Countries such as England, Australia and the Netherlands are also implementing HPV testing as their method for cervical screening.

Emily Davies, Public Health Practitioner, said:

“The screening procedure to collect cells from the cervix will remain the same. It will still involve a speculum examination and a sample of cells will be collected and sent to the laboratory. This means what happens at a women’s cervical screening appointment will not change. However, the processing and analysis of the samples in the laboratory will be different. Samples will be tested for HPV first before looking for cell changes.  As a result, we will be able to detect whether there is a risk of cervical cancer in even more women.”

From 1 August 2018 women invited for a routine cervical screening in Guernsey will automatically be screened using HPV testing, but HSC said it is important to remember that women of any age who have symptoms such as unusual bleeding, discharge and pain should see their GP immediately.

Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, said:

“The move to HPV testing as our method of cervical screening means that we will be offering women an improved test. The accuracy of HPV testing is significantly higher than the current testing. This form of screening is also more appropriate for younger women who have been vaccinated and are now beginning to enter the screening programme.”

Further information about cervical screening, leaflets and information are available from Emily Davies at the Health Promotion Unit on 707311 or e-mail Emily.davies@gg.gov.

It continues to cost for most women to have a cervical smear test - despite efforts to extend the provision of free tests which already exists.

Women having a screening at the Orchard Centre, which is based at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital do not pay while women who have theirs carried out at their doctor's surgery will have to pay a fee of up to almost £90 in some cases.

HSC said it is hoping to offer all women the chance of free screening in the future.

“Cervical screening is already free at the Orchard Centre. Public Health Services have also started looking at the costs of extending this provision to all women across Guernsey and Alderney and will be presenting this information to the Committee for Health & Social Care in the fourth quarter of this year. Any change will have to be carefully considered in view of competing priorities for funding."

Jersey has introduced free cervical screening at all doctor's surgeries under a new scheme launching this month.