ASCP Supports Choice and Access in Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations

• ASCP comment letter reiterates need for evidence-based cervical cancer screening recommendations 

• ASCP urges access to all cervical cancer screening modalities to promote choice and provider-patient decision-making.  

In a recent comment letter to the Heath Resources and Services Administration, ASCP expressed concerns with the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative’s (WPSI) draft cervical cancer screening recommendations. As a patient-centric organization, ASCP voiced concern regarding the emphasis placed on primary HPV testing as the “preferred” method for cervical cancer screening. This emphasis does not reflect the realities faced by many U.S. laboratories, where the use of primary HPV testing platforms remains limited. Additionally, co-testing (HPV + cytology) continues to be a widely supported approach among providers. Unlike the USPSTF cervical cancer screening recommendations — which were developed over years of expert review and assign equal (“Grade A”) status to three screening modalities (cervical cytology alone, primary HPV testing, and co-testing) — the WPSI recommendations lack robust scientific evidence to support their prioritization of primary HPV testing. 

ASCP raised concern that the WPSI recommendations suggest that patient- or self-collected specimens may be equivalent or superior to clinician-collected samples. However, current research does not reflect this claim. While ASCP agrees that HPV self-collection may offer future benefits for some populations, the data is not yet strong enough to confirm substantial value. Moreover, in comments, ASCP cautioned that promoting self-collection over clinician-collected specimens could potentially reduce access to preventive healthcare, particularly for underserved communities. 

ASCP urged that cervical cancer screening recommendations remain grounded in evidence-based practice — similar to the USPSTF recommendations — and reflect the realities of the laboratory and, most importantly, maintain the highest standards of patient care.