Clinic appointment
Cervical Screening with HPV
A cervical sample tested for 14 high-risk HPV types by mRNA, reported together with cervical cytology (a smear) from the same vial.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 5 to 10 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
2 tests included
This count refers to bundled laboratory tests. Their individual measurements are listed below.
Cervical cytology
Cervical cytology examines cells from the cervix for early abnormal changes that could lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. In NHS screening it is done when high-risk HPV is found, and abnormal cytology may lead to a colposcopy to look for cell changes known as CIN. Screening is not a test for cancer.
High-risk HPV (grouped, mRNA)
Checks a sample for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the types linked to cervical and some other cancers. HPV is very common and usually causes no problems, but some types can cause abnormal cell changes that can sometimes turn into cancer.
Overview
In England the NHS invites women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 for cervical screening, and since July 2025 anyone whose last test found no HPV is invited every five years. It is easy to miss or delay an invitation. This test runs HPV testing and cytology together on one cervical sample: it is checked for the fourteen high-risk HPV types, and cytology is reported from the same vial. It suits a woman who has missed a screen, moved between areas, or wants a check between NHS invitations.
For a woman who wants cervical screening outside the NHS recall interval, or who has missed an invitation and wants to catch up. HPV is the first-line test; cytology is reported alongside it.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Women aged 25 and over
- Women aged 25 and over who have missed or are between NHS screening invitations
- Anyone registered abroad or between GP practices
Who it isn’t for
- It is for women aged 25 and over, matching the NHS programme, and it does not replace NHS follow-up if you have been referred for colposcopy. Bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause needs a GP appointment regardless of the result. It does not test for other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- A missed or overdue NHS screening invitation
- Wanting a check between NHS intervals
- A previous HPV-positive result and wanting to know if it has cleared
- Registered abroad or between GP practices
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Cervical cytology
- Result
- n/a
- Range
- on your report
- High-risk HPV (grouped, mRNA)Detected
- Result
- High-risk HPV detected
- Range
- High-risk HPV not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cervical cytology | n/a | n/a | on your report | n/a |
| High-risk HPV (grouped, mRNA) | High-risk HPV detected | n/a | High-risk HPV not detected | Detected |
Doctor’s note (example)
High-risk HPV has been detected with normal cytology. Most infections clear on their own; the usual follow-up a clinician would advise is a repeat test in twelve months.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- You book your appointmentA trained clinician takes your sample at one of our London clinics. Nothing to do at home.
- The clinician takes your sampleA cervical sample, taken by a clinician during an internal examination
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 5 to 10 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Clinic cervical sample
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Women · ages 25+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
Cervical screening is free on the NHS for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 in England, and we would always encourage you to take up your NHS invitation. This is an additional private option, not a replacement for the NHS programme, and results from it are not added to your NHS screening record. The sample has to be taken by a clinician during an internal examination, so it cannot be self-collected. No screening test finds every abnormality, and a normal result does not remove the need for future screening or for getting new symptoms checked.
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
HPV results are reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. Most HPV infections clear on their own without causing any harm, so a detected result is common and is not a diagnosis of cancer or of cell changes. A not-detected result means a lower chance of cell changes over the next few years, but no test finds every abnormality.
This test sits alongside NHS cervical screening rather than replacing it, and symptoms such as bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause need your GP whatever the result says.
Frequently asked questions
How is the sample taken?
By a clinician at the appointment, in the same way as an NHS smear. It takes a few minutes.
What if HPV is detected?
The cytology result is reported alongside it. The doctor explains what the combination means, which is often a repeat in a year, and sometimes a referral for colposcopy.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 5 to 10 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
Neither. A clinician has to take the cervical sample during an internal examination, so this test is always done at a clinic and cannot be collected at home. No blood is taken. We arrange a convenient appointment for you.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. HPV is reported as detected or not detected, with the types found where your test names them, and where cervical cytology is included the report also says whether any cell changes were seen. The doctor's note explains what the result means and what usually happens next, which may be a repeat test or a closer look at the cervix (colposcopy) arranged through your GP. Results are not added to your NHS screening record, so keep taking up your NHS cervical screening invitations. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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