Cervical Screening Programme, England - 2021-2022 [NS]

With the implementation of HPV primary screening into the NHS cervical screening programme, the pathway for patients was redefined. 

Those who have a negative HPV test result are returned to routine screening and no further tests are carried out on the sample.

Those who have a hrHPV positive screen with a cytology negative result, will be recalled in 12 months for a further screen. If the 12 month screen is also hrHPV positive and cytology negative then they are recalled after a further 12 months when an hrHPV positive test with any cytology result will cause a referral to colposcopy.

Those who have a hrHPV positive screen with cytology abnormal result are referred to colposcopy. Those with 2 consecutive HPV unavailable or cytology inadequate results will also be referred to colposcopy.

For further details see the quality statement.

Following the the implementation of HPV primary screening (2019), there was no need to continue with HPV triage screening.  This was where samples were first examined under a microscope for signs of cytological abnormality. Where a test result showed borderline change or low-grade dyskaryosis (abnormal cell changes), the sample was then tested for infection with hrHPV (Human Papillomavirus).

An inadequate sample result can be assigned following a test outcome of either HPV unavailable or cytology inadequate.

Individuals who have an inadequate sample are either tested again or referred to colposcopy.

Colposcopy referrals are made following either:

• 2 consecutive HPV unavailable or cytology inadequate screening tests in any combination (under HPV primary screening).

The proportion of inadequate samples has fallen since the introduction of Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) in 2004-05.

In 2021-2022, 0.5% of all samples were inadequate, a slight increase from 0.4% in 2020-2021 and decrease from 1.3% in 2019-2020.

Under HPV primary screening, a hrHPV negative result means cytology is not required. Therefore, cytology tests, which have a higher rate of inadequate results, are used less often.

The proportion of inadequate samples increased slightly in most age groups compared to the previous year.

The chart below shows that the proportion of inadequate samples in all age bands for 2020-21 and 2021-2022.
 

In 2021-2022, individuals aged 25 to 64, 6 out of 8 laboratories had inadequate sample rates of less than 1.0% compared to all 8 laboratories in 2020-21. The 2 laboratories with inadequate rates of 1.0% or above are Health Service Laboratories Cervical Cytology Service, London (1.0%) and Southmead Hospital, South West (1.1%).

In 2021-2022, for individuals aged 25 to 64:

• 95.5% of samples were reported as being negative.
• 2.3% of tests were reported as low-grade dyskaryosis.
• 1.1% of tests were found to have borderline changes.
• Those below the age of 30 were amongst those most likely to have an abnormal test result (see data table 15).

* ?invasive carcinoma means ‘suspected invasive carcinoma’, ?glandular neoplasia (endocervical) means ‘suspected glandular neoplasia of endocervical type’
NB. The sum of components may not equal totals due to rounding.
Source: KC61, NHS Digital. See data table 15.

The percentage of laboratory tests authorised (test confirmed) within 2 weeks rose to 88.7% in 2021-2022, an increase from 86.7% in 2020-2021.

Prior to 2016-17 the percentage authorised within 2 weeks had been above 90% since 2011-12.

The increase in time to authorisation of reports in recent years is attributable to the implementation of HPV primary screening. The lead up to implementation affected capacity in laboratories due to reduced workforce. Further details can be found in Appendix J

Regional versions of the chart above are available in the interactive report accompanying this publication.

There are 2 main colposcopy referral groups

Standards

The distribution of individual laboratory results is used by the programme for quality assurance purposes in monitoring performance.
Where laboratories fall outside specified ranges (standards) there is a requirement to investigate the reason(s) for this.

The standards that laboratories are required to adhere to are outlined in cervical screening programme standards.

There are 3 key values used for assessing laboratories which are summarised below with further details available in Appendix B. Values should be considered alongside other information rather than in isolation.

For standards, when a laboratory is outside the range (see table below) this may require further investigation. Prior to the screening year ending in March 2022, PPV and APV standards were measured by calculating a 5% to 95% ‘acceptable’ range annually from the rates for all laboratories. As there are now only 8 laboratories, this is no longer an appropriate method to calculate a standard range. Whilst the method for calculating a standard is being reviewed, the range will be reported. The programme will continue to monitor trends in the PPV and APV but will not apply a standard.

* The percentile ranges for the PPV, RV and APV indicators are calculated using data from the previous year (KC61, Part C2). For example, the PPV for 2021-2022 is based on data from 2020-2021.
See Appendix B for definitions of PPV, RV and APV and see Appendix E on Outcomes of Gynaecological Referrals for further information about cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN).
NB: Individuals with negative cytology but who test positive for HPV and are referred to colposcopy are not currently included in the calculation of referral value. See Appendix B – Definitions for more information.
Source: KC61, NHS Digital. See Data Tables 19 and 19a

For 2021-22, the full range of values is shown as there is only data for 8 laboratories.

Inadequate samples

Prior to the screening year ending in March 2021, this standard was measured by calculating a 5% to 95% ‘acceptable’ range annually from the rates for all laboratories. As there are now only 8 laboratories, this is no longer an appropriate method to calculate a standard range. Whilst the method for calculating a standard is being reviewed, the range will be reported. The programme will continue to monitor trends in the rate of inadequate cytology tests but will not apply a standard.

** Based on results for individuals aged 25 to 64 tested in GP and NHS community clinics only.

The full range of values is shown as there is only data for 8 laboratories.

Source: KC61, NHS Digital. See Data Tables 19 and 19a