European guidelines for quality assurance in cervical cancer screening: recommendations for collecting samples for conventional and liquid-based cytology.

The current paper presents an annex in the second edition of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Cervical Cancer Screening. It provides guidance on how to make a satisfactory conventional Pap smear or a liquid-based cytology (LBC) sample. Practitioners taking samples for cytology should first explain to the woman the purpose, the procedure and how the result will be communicated.

Persistent high risk HPV infection associated with development of cervical neoplasia in a prospective population study.

Aims: To monitor the association between the course of high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and the development of cervical neoplasia over time, from a baseline of normal cervical cytology.

Methods: This paper presents the follow up data from a previous cross sectional analysis. Women from a screening population who had normal cytology and who were HR-HPV positive were recalled after two to three years for cytology and HPV genotyping.

Liquid-based cytology in cervical screening: an updated rapid and systematic review and economic analysis.

Objectives: To update an earlier published report reviewing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of liquid-based cytology (LBC).

Data Sources: Electronic bibliographic databases, relevant articles, sponsor submissions and various health services research-related resources.

Review Methods: The selected data were reviewed and assessed with respect to the quality of the evidence.

Multiple high risk HPV infections are common in cervical neoplasia and young women in a cervical screening population.

Aims: If human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is to be included within cervical screening programmes, the importance of multiple HPV infections in cervical neoplasia needs to be determined. This study investigated the diversity of multiple HPV types in a routine cervical screening population, and assessed associations with cervical neoplasia.

Methods: Overall HPV prevalence, type specific prevalence, and extent of multiple infection were assessed in residual material from 3444 liquid based cytology samples, using real time GP5+/GP6+ polymerase chain reaction for screening and linear array assay for genotyping.