Cervical Cytopathology

Details

Title

Cervical Cytopathology

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS394

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect to background and principles, be able to:

• Analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• Perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• Demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

General principles and cancer screening programme (CSP)

• Applies rationale, methodology and organisation of the CSP
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the roles of component organisations, failsafe
• Identifies features to determine the adequacy of a cervical sample

Technical aspects

• Demonstrates basic knowledge of automated screening devices and HPV testing
• Demonstrates awareness of the process involved in approving new technologies for use in cervical screening

Borderline nuclear changes (BNC)

• Demonstrates understanding of criteria for diagnosis of BNC

Dyskaryosis

• Demonstrates understanding of criteria for diagnosis and grading of squamous and glandular dyskaryosis

Quality Assurance (QA)

• Demonstrates awareness of QA including internal quality control (IQC), external quality assurance (EQA) and audit

Technical and clinical skills

General principles and cancer screening programme (CSP)

• Demonstrates the ability to source information on the CSP
• Demonstrates understanding of the difficulties in producing rigid criteria for adequacy
• Ability to recognise inadequate specimens

Technical aspects

• Demonstrates awareness of sampling devices used and the fixation of specimens
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of the range of methods for converting a raw samples into a slide

Borderline nuclear changes (BNC)

• Recognises the morphological features of BNC

Dyskaryosis

• Recognises typical examples of mild, moderate and severe squamous dyskaryosis and endocervical cellular abnormalities

Quality Assurance (QA)

• Recognises QA procedures involved in cervical screening, including internal quality control (IQC), external quality assurance (EQA) and audit
• Recognises current national quality standards and indicators