ASCP Articulates Serious Concerns with ACS Cervical Cancer Guidelines

ASCP recently voiced concerns with the American Cancer Society (ACS) over its recently revised cervical cancer guidelines. On July 30, ACS released its updated guidelines for “Cervical Cancer Screening for Individuals at Average Risk." The guidelines recommend that individuals with a cervix initiate cervical cancer screening at age 25 years and undergo primary HPV testing every 5 years through age 65 as the preferred screening method. Co-testing (HPV testing in combination with cytology) every 5 years or cytology alone every 3 years are acceptable options if primary HPV testing is not available. 

ASCP remains committed to retaining the use of co-testing and cytology for optimal cervical cancer screening and pre-cancer detection in the opportunistic screening environment in the U.S. and supports appropriate reimbursement for this testing. The final ACS guidelines do address ASCP concerns that only HPV testing platforms approved for primary screening be used for that purpose, in addition to referring providers to appropriate ASCCP management guidelines for women with abnormal screening tests. 

ASCP, through its work with the Cytopathology Education and Technology Consortium, raised a number of concerns with the ACS by observing that the data relied upon to support its guidelines are not reflective of the U.S. health system; that most U.S. laboratories do not offer primary HPV screening on FDA-approved testing platforms; and that a sizable portion of cervical cancer patients test negative for HPV and would not be flagged for further testing or treatment, and others. ASCP members can read about the concerns with the ACS guidelines in a statement here. 

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