Dr. Karin Denton:

The existing providers are unable to cope with the volume which is resulting from the additional uptake of samples. As it is in excess of what they are contracted to do, it is not really surprising that they cannot cope with the volume. That is resulting in long backlogs building up. Those backlogs will continue to increase as long as the number of samples carries on at current levels. There is very little they can do to mitigate that because, as they have learned from all of this, it is not a good idea to send the samples out elsewhere. It is a real problem.

The cervical cytology slides themselves do not really have a life-span problem. They will last more than long enough to allow them to be properly reported. The problem comes with the HPV testing which is currently undertaken as a reflex for certain grades of abnormality because that has a lifespan limit. We are probably getting quite close to the point at which some women may not be able to have the reflex HPV test because it is out of date. As such, while it is beginning to reach a critical point in terms of laboratory process, in terms of the individual woman's experience, it is already critical because a lot of people are very anxious, understandably, and have already waited a long time for their reports.

It is a genuine problem which, unfortunately, will worsen if no action is taken.