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Ensuring quality in cervical screening programmes based on molecular human papillomavirus testing
Author(s) -
Cuschieri Kate,
Schuurman Rob,
Coughlan Suzie
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1365-2303
pISSN - 0956-5507
DOI - 10.1111/cyt.12679
Subject(s) - quality assurance , guideline , medicine , quality (philosophy) , human papillomavirus , cervical screening , strengths and weaknesses , test (biology) , medical physics , process management , risk analysis (engineering) , external quality assessment , pathology , business , cervical cancer , psychology , social psychology , paleontology , biology , philosophy , epistemology , cancer
The increased use of human papillomavirus testing within cervical screening programmes necessarily brings about changes to the laboratory services required to support them. A crucial element of such services is to demonstrate initial and ongoing quality of the test (and associated processes). In this review, we outline some of the quality considerations and challenges with an emphasis on the laboratory including assay and platform validation, internal quality control selection and strengths and weaknesses of external quality assurance schemes. The influence and role of key external entities, including regulatory agencies, guideline groups, programme commissioners and commercial providers, are also discussed.