The introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening in England was announced recently. DNA-based HPV testing has been at the heart of research over the past 10 years, through the landmark ATHENA study, which has demonstrated the long‐term safety of using HPV DNA as a predictor of cervical cancer risk.
The prominence given to primary screening alongside existing testing represents a landmark for patients, and work will soon be underway with the NHS screening programme to help identify those women most at risk of developing cervical cancer, and with laboratories across the country to support the implementation of this new test.