title: The British Society for Clinical Cytology Certificate of Competence in Cytology Screening: a report of the first 3 years' experience.
abstract: In 1988 the Department of Health (DOH) recognized the cytology screener grade of laboratory staff. Cytology screeners have a 2 year training period after which they must sit a 'competence examination'. The British Society for Clinical Cytology offers an examination to meet the DOH specification. It consists of a written paper, a practical screening test, a spot test and a short viva voce. The screening test is paramount and candidates who miss a dyskaryotic smear cannot be successful. In the first 3 years there have been 22 examinations, 294 candidates and a pass rate of 76%. The majority of candidates were Cytology Screeners of 2-3 years experience but significant numbers of Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs) and senior MLSOs also chose to sit the examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McGoogan
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D003585:Cell Biology / Q000193:education*; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears