Pathologists concerned about outsourced smear tests

A number of consultant pathologists from Irish hospitals have reportedly expressed major concerns about plans to outsource Irish smear tests to a US company.

Reports this morning say the doctors have warned that up to 1,000 women with early signs of cervical cancer may be wrongly given the all-clear if the move goes ahead.

The pathologists, from the Coombe Women's Hospital, St James' Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and University College Hospital Galway, say the missed cases will arise because the success rate of the US company Quest Diagnostics is 30% less than that of Irish laboratories.

Quest has been hired by the Government to analyse 300,000 smear tests every year after the national cervical screening programme is expanded nationwide.

The Government and health officials have insisted that the company is completely trustworthy.