A NEWER method of taking and testing cells for cervical cancer has been started in Herefordshire.

Thousands of women who are screened each year will not notice the difference at the time but it could prevent many of them being called back for a second or third smear.

More than 82% of women in Herefordshire who qualify for cervical cancer screening take up the offer, 2% per cent higher than the national average.

The service has always been good, but now Herefordshire Primary Care Trust wants to make it better.

Under the old system, cervical cells were taken by using a wooden instrument and then spread on to a slide before being sent to a laboratory for examination.

Under the new one, up and running by the end of last month, a plastic instrument is used and the cells placed into a small tube of liquid.

The technique, called liquid based cytology, is said to be faster and more accurate when checked in a laboratory and could save many women being called back for another test.

Dr Rosemary Williams, cervical screening co-ordinator for the PCT, described it as a huge step forward for the service in Herefordshire.

Last year 15,000 smears were taken from women in the county and around 12% of them proved "inadequate" - difficult to read and resulting in worry, and inconvenience, to those called back for another test.

By using the liquid based method Dr William hopes that will be reduced dramatically, to 1%.

But like all new techniques - and this one has been recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence -- all those large number of people involved in the screening programme have had to work hard to implement it locally.

"We are only the second PCT in the West Midlands to convert to LBC (liquid based cytology). Last year a lot of hard work went into compiling a plan to ensure all technology is in place, and that all staff, both in the laboratory and smear takers were trained up, ready for conversion.

"Two people in particular have contributed to this, Sharon Davies, the hospital based screening co-ordinator who has led the laboratory team, and Janie Lyons, our cervical screening nurse advisor who has co-ordinated the task of getting all smear takers trained up for the new technique,'' said Dr Williams.

As a result Herefordshire has been able to convert far ahead of many other PCTS, she added.

Women are offered their first screening at the age of 25, followed up every three years to 49 and every five years between 50 and 64.

The service was launched in 1998 and is said to have reduced cervical cancer in England by 42%, preventing around 4,500 deaths a year.

Screening is claimed as one of the best defences against cervical cancer, preventing around 75% of cancer cases in women who attend regularly.