High risk human papillomavirus versus cytological screening over two rounds in Finnish screening programme for cervical cancer: population based cohort study

Within a well established, population based national screening programme, the results of the study indicated that hrHPV screening with a five year interval was effective and safe. hrHPV screening identified precancerous lesions earlier than cytological screening. The incidence of CIN2+ was low in the second screening round in women with a negative hrHPV test result in the initial round and in those aged ≥50 years, and hence a longer screening interval for specific subgroups should be considered.