Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Health the locations in which the laboratories carrying out the cervical test reviews are located; and if the laboratories testing the samples meet the accredited standards [44192/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Three laboratories currently provide services for CervicalCheck. These are:

- Quest Diagnostics, New Jersey

- MedLab Pathology, Sandyford

- Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin

Under the terms of their contract with CervicalCheck, some of the tests which are directed to MedLab are carried out at The Doctors' Laboratory in London (TDL).

As part of his Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck, Dr Gabriel Scally visited all laboratories which currently provide services for CervicalCheck. Dr Scally has stated that he is satisfied with the quality management processes in the current laboratory sites and found no reason, on quality grounds, why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV testing regime has been introduced. Dr Scally has now undertaken to provide me with a supplementary report on the laboratories.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Health if women are having to have a second cervical test due to a backlog in view of the recent reports; the number of women affected by same; and the measures being taken to counteract this backlog [44193/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 1 May, following a Government Decision, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that they should have a further test, could access such a test without charge. This decision was taken considering the need to provide reassurance to women.

The HSE advises that CervicalCheck laboratory activity remains significantly above normal levels. This is a result both of out-of-cycle smears, and also increased uptake generally. This has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. 

The HSE also advises that every effort is being made to ensure that tests are processed as quickly as possible, having regard to the high standards required for testing. This is a priority concern for my Department and the HSE.  The recent agreements reached with the contracted labs includes arrangements to address the backlog in testing. 

I think it is important to emphasise that smear tests are a screening and not a diagnostic process, and if any women is concerned or is experiencing any symptoms, she should consult with her GP.

In relation to the specific questions raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.