Feature Story

Kaiser Permanente’s recommended Pap/HPV screening intervals

Related article:
Kaiser roll: the push for more HPV screening

July 2004
Karen Southwick

Women under the age of 30

Recommended: Screening by conventional cytology every two years (biennial screening) after two or more consecutive negative Pap tests within the past five years.

Acceptable: Annual cytology screening, should the patient choose this option after a discussion of the risks and benefits of more frequent screening.

Women age 30 and over

Recommended: Screening intervals should be based on cytology and HPV test results.

• Women with negative cytology and HPV tests should be rescreened at 30 to 36 months.
• Women with negative cytology and positive HPV tests should be rescreened with both tests at one year.

Acceptable: Annual cytology screening, should the patient choose this option after a discussion of the risks and benefits of more frequent screening.

Acceptable: Biennial cytology screening after two or more consecutive negative Pap tests within the previous five years is acceptable only if the patient understands the increase in cancer risk that results from fewer visits and procedures.

Women in whom initial cervical screening was performed by cytology alone should be screened annually for two years to compensate for the small possibility of an initial false-negative Pap test result before moving to a longer screening interval.

Women older than 30 who initiate screening with cytology and HPV testing may proceed directly to the interval appropriate to their cytology and HPV results.

Karen Southwick is a writer in San Francisco