Your results

High-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV) not found

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) was not found in your cervical sample. This is a reassuring result which means that we do not need to check your cervical cells. This is because your risk of developing high grade cell changes or cervical cancer within the next five years is very low.

Due to the success and effectiveness of HPV testing, the UK National Screening Committee has recommended that it is safe for cervical screening programmes to invite all women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 for screening every five years, if they  do not have HPV in their sample.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus found, cells normal

This means that, although we found high-risk HPV in your sample, when we looked at the cells there were no cell changes. We will invite you for another test after 12 months to see whether your body has cleared the virus.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus found, cell changes seen

If high-risk HPV is found in your sample, we will look at the cells and, if there are any changes, we will refer you to a colposcopy clinic at your local hospital (See the Colposcopy Clinic)

The cell changes are called dyskaryosis. The changes are usually in the skin (squamous) cells covering the outside of the cervix. Sometimes they may be in the cells inside the cervix or womb, called glandular cells.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus found, not enough cells

Sometimes when we look at the cells in your sample, although we cannot see any cell changes, there are fewer cells than we would like to see. There need to be enough cells for us to give you a reliable result.

You would usually need to have the test repeated after 12 weeks.

It is important to be screened again.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus result not available/unreliable

This means that we cannot give you a proper result and we have not looked at the cells in the sample. There a several reasons why this can happen. You would usually need to have the test repeated after 12 weeks. It is important that you are screened again.