In this section
Manchester Cytology Centre (MCC) has a strong research and audit base, taking part in numerous multi-disciplinary team meetings across the North West. The centre is collaboratively involved in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) research with the Virology Department at MFT and The University of Manchester.
MCC is part of the extended long-term follow up of ARTISTIC (A Randomised Trial In Screening To Improve Cytology) and the ACES (Alternative CErvical Screening) study to determine the clinical performance of URINE samples and HPV testing. In collaboration with Public Health England, MCC and Virology are one of the screening sites involved in HPValidate to validate self-sampling devices for HPV. Research works currently undertaken by the non-gynaecological service include the Precision Pancreas study, Protector study and DETECT research project.
Our staff members are all fully qualified to professional and NHSCSP standards in the screening and reporting of cervical cytology.
Screening and reporting staff regularly participate in the External Quality Assurance scheme organised by PHE. The department also participates in the Technical External Quality Assurance scheme.
HPV primary screening was introduced nationally in 2019. The Manchester Cytology Centre rolled out HPV primary screening and ThinPrep LBC across the newly acquired North West cervical screening service between June and December 2019.
All received cervical screening samples are tested for high-risk HPV as the first-line test and HPV positive samples are triaged for cytology using the ThinPrep LBC system.
Our services
For full details of all our services, including specimen collection and transportation, please refer to our Gynaecological, Non-gynaecological and Synovial Fluid Cytology sections.
(Last reviewed April 2021)