Using HPV test in cervical screening may allow some women to stop earlier

Replacing traditional smear tests used in cervical cancer screening with a new test that detects human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA may allow regular testing to stop earlier for some women, a study published in Lancet Oncology suggests.1

The NHS invites women in England aged 25 to 49 for cervical screening every three years and those aged 50 to 64 every five years using cervical cytology (smear test). The new HPV test is being rolled out and will be the primary test used by the end of 2019. While more expensive than the current test, the HPV test has been shown to detect a higher proportion of women with high grade precancerous lesions (cervical intraepithelial …