The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is to carry out an assessment to establish the most effective screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer.

Every year, around 300 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer in Ireland and 90 die from the disease. Most cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a common virus that most people will have at some point in their lives. There are over 100 types of the virus and in most cases, the body's immune system is able to clear it from the body. However, persistent infection with different HPV types can lead to the development of cervical cancer.

A smear test can detect early changes in the cells of the cervix before they become cancerous. These changes can then be treated, meaning that the cancer never gets a chance to develop. Women aged between 25 and 60 can avail of free smear tests as part of CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme.

Currently, CervicalCheck uses liquid-based cytology as the primary screening tool. If low-grade abnormalities are found, the same sample is then tested for HPV DNA to determine if the woman needs to be referred for a colposcopy or can return to routine screening.

However, changing the order of these tests, i.e. testing for HPV DNA first and then using liquid-based cytology, has the potential to improve the detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous cell changes. In other words, the screening process could become even more efficient.

Following a request by CervicalCheck, HIQA will undertake a health technology assessment to evaluate the implications of making HPV DNA the primary screening test. As part of this, the clinical, ethical, financial and organisational implications will be analysed.

"By examining international evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of HPV testing - and by modelling these benefits, along with the budget impact of switching to HPV DNA testing for the Irish healthcare system - we will be in a position to provide independent advice on the optimal screening strategy for preventing cervical cancer in Ireland," explained HIQA's director of health technology assessment, Dr Mairin Ryan.

The results of this assessment are expected by the end of 2016 and they will then be submitted to CervicalCheck for consideration.

For more information on CervicalCheck, click here