Cervical Screening London has issued an urgent communication to sample takers following a review of available evidence and expert clinical advice regarding the optimal screening interval for people living with HIV.

The review, carried out by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, concluded that annual routine screening for hrHPV not detected individuals with well-controlled HIV is no longer supported. 

People living with well-controlled HIV who receive a hrHPV not detected result at their next routine cervical screening will be recalled at the same national cervical screening interval as people who are not living with HIV. There is no longer a need for people living with HIV to attend for annual screening. 

People living with HIV who test hrHPV detected will continue to receive appropriate care through the established NHS Cervical Screening Programme pathways, including cytology triage, surveillance, referral and post-treatment follow-up where needed. A small cohort of individuals living with HIV that is not well controlled, or who have poor adherence to treatment for HIV, may continue to receive annual clinician taken cervical screening at the request of their managing HIV clinician, with prior agreement from the laboratory.