Improving the quality of cervical screening.

Objective: To compare the adequacy of cervical cytology sampling by a newly designed cervical cell sampler (the implement) with a commonly used, extended tip cervical scraper, namely the Jordan's spatula, by assessing the quality of cervical smears obtained.

Design: Prospective randomised controlled trial, with the approval of the local Ethics Committee after informing the Medical Devices Agency in the UK.

Setting: Colposcopy Clinic in a District General NHS Trust Hospital in London.

Needle versus loop diathermy excision of the transformation zone for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether lower rates or incomplete resection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) may be achieved by needle excision of the transformation zone (NETZ) than with loop excision (LLETZ).

Design: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A gynaecological oncology centre and a teaching hospital in West London.