Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects to introduce the more accurate HPV test for cervical cancer screening; if these tests will be carried out in Irish laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22798/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The outcome of a health technology assessment carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) for the National Screening Service was that the HPV test is a more accurate testing mechanism than the current liquid-based cytology, that the use of the HPV test would result in fewer false negative results, and that the use of the HPV test would result in more cancers being prevented.

I approved the switch to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for the CervicalCheck programme in February.  Under the proposals, cytology testing will still be done on a smaller cohort as a secondary test. The introduction of the test was intended for October of this year and I have asked the HSE to implement the move to HPV testing as the primary screening method as soon as possible.  

While the extent to which the HPV testing can be done in Ireland is being assessed, it is likely that a tendering process will be needed to meet at least some of the HPV testing requirement.