US laboratory behind Vicky Phelan’s cervical cancer mess-up highlights differences in standards between Irish and American screening methods
THE lab responsible for Vicky Phelan’s cervical cancer mess-up has highlighted the differences in screening standards between Ireland and the United States.
Clinical Pathology Laboratories - who paid out €2.5million to the Limerick mum for the mistake - made its first public statement since the scandal broke at the end of last month.
The US lab said: “CPL is one of two U.S. and two Irish laboratories that have provided pap smear testing for the Irish cervical screening program since 2008.
"These screens have been performed through manual examinations of individual slides, without the benefit of computer-based imaging and a separate HPV test, which together comprise the clinical standard in the U.S. and many other countries for cervical cancer screening.”
The Taoiseach has said this HPV test is to be introduced here in October as part of a move to make the screening more effective.
In their statement, CPL also said: “Since 2008, more than three million screening tests were performed by the four laboratories contracted by the Irish Health Service Executive.
“This testing was performed to the highest quality standards in order to assure the best possible outcomes for the women participating.
“Despite this, it is internationally recognized that no screening program is 100 per cent effective and all have an inherent margin for error.
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“The results of cervical cancer screens conducted by our lab and three others are well above the accepted accuracy rate for the type of screening specified by the Health Service Executive in Ireland and have been continuously monitored and repeatedly endorsed by Irish health authorities as well as US laboratory accrediting agencies.
“Clinical Pathology Laboratories has a lengthy history of reading and evaluating pap smears and performing other medical tests.
“We adhere to the highest clinical standards and are regularly reviewed by the appropriate U.S. governmental and private accrediting agencies, and have maintained continued accreditation for more than 20 years.”