The National Cervical Screening Laboratory (NCSL) is carrying out a feasibility study to evaluate the use of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technology in cervical cytology. The study is looking at whether AI could help support laboratory experts to deliver safe, accurate and sustainable cervical screening into the future.
By Dr Corrina Wright, Clinical Director, National Cervical Screening Laboratory
When you attend for cervical screening, your sample is first tested for HPV (the human papillomavirus). This is an automated test performed in the HPV laboratory. If HPV is found, the same sample is then examined in the cytology laboratory. This is called cervical cytology - the laboratory step that manually examines cervical cell samples using a microscope.
Medical scientists and cytopathologists carefully examine the cervical cells to look for changes that may need follow-up or treatment. This work is detailed and highly skilled. A single slide can contain tens of thousands of cells, with only a small number potentially showing changes.
We are carrying out a feasibility study at the NCSL to evaluate if digital and AI technology could support our laboratory teams to carry out this work in the future.
Why we are looking at new technology
Cytology has been used safely and effectively for many years. However, like many health services internationally, screening programmes are facing increasing challenges, including:
- difficulties recruiting and retaining specialist laboratory staff
- the time-intensive nature of reviewing large numbers of slides
- natural variation between human readers, even when all staff are highly trained.
We want to understand if technology could help support our experts while maintaining the high standards expected in CervicalCheck.
About the new technology
The study is evaluating an FDA-approved digital and AI-supported system called Genius® Digital Diagnostics System.
The process for taking your cervical screening sample does not change. The difference is in how the laboratory slide is reviewed.
Using this technology:
- slides are prepared in the same way and then scanned
- the scanned slide is reviewed digitally rather than only through a microscope
- AI helps highlight areas of the slide that may need closer attention
- specialists can review images more clearly and consistently
- medical scientists and cytopathologists still examine your cervical cells and make all clinical decisions.
AI is being explored as a tool to support healthcare professionals, not replace them - similar to how other technologies already assist healthcare teams in different areas of medicine.
Similar systems are already being used in laboratories in Europe and the United States.
What the feasibility study is looking at
The study is focused on 3 key questions:
- Is it accurate and safe?
We are assessing whether digital review with AI support performs at least as well as traditional microscope-based review.
2. Does it support staff?
We are evaluating if staff find the technology comfortable, practical and sustainable to use in their daily work.
3. Is it efficient?
We are looking at whether the technology could help laboratory teams manage workload effectively while maintaining quality and safety.
Any evaluation is being carried out carefully using anonymised samples from the Irish screening population.
What this means for screening participants
If AI-supported technology is introduced in the future, it will be done carefully, transparently and in line with national standards.
For people taking part in cervical screening, the most important things will stay the same:
- screening will continue to be quality assured
- trained healthcare professionals will continue to oversee all results
- follow-up care and support will remain in place
- safety and accuracy will remain the priority.
Looking ahead
Every step we take at CervicalCheck is focused on improving the service while maintaining public trust and confidence.
This feasibility study will help us understand whether digital and AI technology could support a high-quality, sustainable cervical screening service into the future.