The BC FOCAL study is the most important clinical trial of cervical cancer screening in North America. The study ends with the 48-month exit visit for all women. The preliminary analyses of these exit visits indicates that screening with the HPV test detected more precancerous lesions at the outset of the trial compared to the Pap test, thus permitting clinicians to treat these lesions and prevent future risk of cancer.
On the flip side, women who tested negative for HPV when they entered the clinical trial had much greater reassurance that they were safe from cancer four years later than those who tested negative by cytology (Pap test). Because HPV testing is so much more accurate in detecting cervical precancers, screening can be done less frequently with the HPV test. Physicians recommended annual or biennial Pap tests in the past because there is little confidence in the accuracy of this test. With HPV testing, women and physicians can regain trust in cervical cancer screening.
The BC FOCAL study is the most important clinical trial of cervical cancer screening in North America. The study ends with the 48-month exit visit for all women. The preliminary analyses of these exit visits indicates that screening with the HPV test detected more precancerous lesions at the outset of the trial compared to the Pap test, thus permitting clinicians to treat these lesions and prevent future risk of cancer.
However, women who tested negative for HPV when they entered the clinical trial had much greater reassurance that they were safe from cancer four years later than those who tested negative by cytology (Pap test). Because HPV testing is so much more accurate in detecting cervical precancers, screening can be done less frequently with the HPV test. Physicians recommended annual or biennial Pap tests in the past because there is little confidence in the accuracy of this test. With HPV testing, women and physicians can regain trust in cervical cancer screening.
