Best practice guides for GPs, sample takers and primary care

Sample Takers

Good practice guidance for sample takers can be found on GOV.UK.

It is the sample taker’s responsibility to make sure a result has been received for every sample they take. Test results are received by GP practices via the lab links.

If you are having problems with your sample taker code, please contact your local Screening and Immunisation Team (SIT).

To request that a sample be tested, sample takers should use their local test ordering system (eg, ICE) to send samples to their laboratory.   However, if a sample taker does not have a local ordering system, they should use the CSMS-generated HMR101 form.  If for any reason, CSMS is unavailable, sample takers can use this blank HMR101 form template.  All sample takers should direct any questions about sample test requests to their laboratory in the first instance.

Please also include any screening history or clinical details you are aware of to support the laboratory in providing the correct recall management.

Professional Guidance

Guidance for Call and Recall Administration – Best Practice (GOV.UK)
Ceasing and Deferring Women from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (GOV.UK) 
Call and recall timetable – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Call and recall record retention schedule – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Pregnancy, Menopause, Contraception and Hysterectomy – Management of cases (GOV.UK)  
Screening/Management of Immunosuppressed Individuals (GOV.UK) 
Cervical screening care pathway – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Cervical screening: cytopathology standards and evaluation criteria – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Cytology Reporting Failsafe (Primary HPV – GOV.UK) 
Failsafe guidance overview (publishing.service.gov.uk) 
(CSP): liquid-based cytology system conversion training – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Clinical Practice guidance for assessment of young women with abnormal vaginal bleeding 
Cervical screening: professional guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Professional Guidance List

Support for patients

Cervical screening: support for people who find it hard to attend – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Guidance to support people who find it hard to attend cervical screening due to a mental health condition, previous traumatic experience or sexual and/or domestic abuse.
Supporting women with learning disabilities to access cervical screening – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  
Cervical screening extra support checklist (publishing.service.gov.uk)  
Information for transgender people – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  
Leaflet for women considering screening – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Leaflet to send to someone referred for colposcopy GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Further help and support for cervical screening – NHS (www.nhs.uk) 
Support For Patients List
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