Recommended Code of Practice for Laboratories Participating in the UK Cervical Screening Programmes 2010
More than ten years have passed since the last edition of this code of practice. Much has changed in cervical cytopathology, and change continues apace. There is no right time for producing a new edition. Considerations regarding the clinical utility of automated screening and HPV testing in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) are on-going and likely to render parts of this third edition out-of date fairly quickly.
For this reason the third edition is being published on the website to enable us to make relevant changes as innovations and new technologies are implemented in the cervical screening programme. It must be noted that the guidance published in this document is exactly that. Many of the recommendations are based on professional consensus. Where evidence exists it has been referenced. Many of the sections merely draw attention to the relevant NHSCSP, Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) or other documents or websites. Where possible, suitable links have been inserted to allow for easy web site navigation.
The guidance is aimed at laboratories that work within the relevant cervical screening programme in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and recognises the varied service configurations which currently exist, even these may be transitional. Whilst it contains many examples of good practice it is not specifically aimed at laboratories working within the private sector or countries outside the United Kingdom. To ensure that guidance was appropriate to all four screening programmes members of the working party were drawn from each of the four countries. In addition to members of BSCC Council, the IBMS and National Association of Cytologists (NAC) representatives to BSCC Council and the Chair of the NHSCSP National Laboratory QA Group were invited to sit on the working party. Whilst recognising that individuals working within the profession can be male or female the term “He” will be used throughout this document.
Editorial policy reflects the interest of cytopathologists and cytotechnologists alike as well as the interests of clinicians using the cytology service. It also reflects the interest of biological scientists whose work involves research at the cellular level.
BSCC Code of Practice 2010 0.5Mb PDF file, 19/02/2010
The Official Journal of the British Society for Clinical Cytology and an Affiliated Journal of over 20 National Cytology Societies
The aim of Cytopathology is to publish articles relating to those aspects of cytology which will increase our knowledge and understanding of the aetiology, diagnosis and management of human disease. It contains original articles and critical reviews on all aspects of clinical cytology in its broadest sense: including gynaecological and non-gynaecological cytology, fine needle aspiration and screening strategy. The Journal welcomes papers on ultrastructural, histochemical and immunocytochemical studies of the cell as well as articles on quantitative cytology and DNA hybridization as applied to cytological material.
Editorial policy reflects the interest of cytopathologists and cytotechnologists alike as well as the interests of clinicians using the cytology service. It also reflects the interest of biological scientists whose work involves research at the cellular level.
Editor's Choice is a regular freely accessible paper chosen by the Editor.
An article in Cytopathology by Pang et al., has been ed as Editor’s Choice for free access during December 2011 and January 2012. The authors demonstrate how molecular analysis is ideally dealt with: the same laboratory using biopsies, cell blocks, or cells taken directly from cytological slides, depending on the material available and clinical need but always controlling the ratio of malignant:non-malignant cells in the sample with cytomorphology. The authors conclude that these “samples would be highly valuable in cases where cytological samples are the only material available for mutation testing.” You are also recommended to read the accompanying editorial by Fernando Schmitt, which refers to several other articles on related topics published in the same issue.
KRAS and BRAF mutation analysis can be reliably performed on aspirated cytological specimens of metastatic colorectal carcinoma
N. K. B. Pang, M. E. Nga, S. Y. Chin, T. M. Ismail, G. L. Lim, R. Soong and M. Salto-Tellez. Cytopathology 201122:358-64
Molecular biology and flow cytometry: pre-analytical procedures matter
F. Schmitt. Cytopathology 2011:22:356-7
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118513440/home
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