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New technology for smear tests
9:00am Friday 25th April 2008
WOMEN across Essex are set to benefit from a more efficient test for cervical cancer.
Nurses and other medical staff are being trained to carry out smear testing using the latest liquid-based cytology technique, which reduces the number of inadequate specimens taken by up to 80 per cent.
This will reduce the number of women who have to be recalled for testing, but so far it has been unavailable in Essex.
Trusts in Scotland and Wales introduced the new method last year, along with two health authorities in England, but nowhere in Essex.
Hospital laboratories have now trained staff to read the slides and South Essex Primary Care Trust has run training sessions for smear takers to use the new technology.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence, endorses the use of new drugs and techniques in the NHS, and recommended in 2003 the new procedure be universally adopted by the health service within five years, following successful pilot studies.
Many inadequate smears were due to cells being obscured, meaning the patient is asked to attend again so cells can be collected and viewed.
Sarah Mossop, screening co-ordinator in Essex, said: "Liquid-based cytology technique is a newer and ultimately faster method of preparing the slide for reading within laboratories.
"The benefits to women are there should be fewer smears classed as inadequate or not possible to read, so there should be fewer repeats required."
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