Smear test result waiting time

[twinkletoes33]

Can I ask how long roughly I should expect to wait for my smear results? I know there's been a delay but just wondered how long people have waited recently.... the wait makes me anxious!

[dementedpixie]

I had my test today and was told 4-5 weeks

[gubbsywubbsy]

I was told months but I got mine in about 4 weeks .

[CryHavoc]

I had mine done in August and it was five weeks. Everything was clear.

[onthecoins]

9 weeks in Cambridge.

[Ellabella989]

I was told 10 weeks and got it back in 8 (Derbyshire). Previous years it’s only taken about 10 days

[Mintjulia]

Four weeks in Hampshire

[iwillnevereatspaghetti]

Result in 2 weeks London ccg

[twinsbelly]

Mine was the end of August and I'm still waiting.

[Tanfastic]

Mine came back within 10 days. Lancashire.

[twinkletoes33]

Wow such different wait times.... I'm in Surrey, anyone from there? It's a shame it's taking 10+ weeks for results for some ladies, seems too long for something that they (quite rightly) push to make sure everyone attends.

[TankGirl97]

I had one last week and was told six weeks til results.

[namechangenumber2]

Blimey mine was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I'm still waiting, I thought that was a long time!!

[StealthMama]

I thought if there was something found then the care pathway requires a response in 2 weeks, then everyone else goes into an admin pile. Not sure for certain though, that could just be my area.

[gubbsywubbsy]

The thing is it's not like the two week wait when you have found something. It's just screening so I wasn't worried .. the nurse seemed very intent on assuring me a long wait was normal but it hadn't occurred to me to worry .. I am a glass half full person though so don't worry unless there is actually something to worry about ..
I'm in West Sussex in answer to the Surrey question so not sure if there use the same labs .. my nurse just said there was a back log which is good if lots of women are getting it done .

[TroysMammy]

Mine took about 10 days. Having lletz in the past and yearly smears which have now ended, they only tested for HPV which causes cell changes. I won't be recalled for 5 years now. I'm in Swansea.

[Wigeon]

I had mine recently and it took ages - maybe 10 weeks? Hertfordshire. They did say that if there was a problem they’d tell me quicker, but said it was taking several weeks at the moment.

[Malibucyprus]

I had my smear on the 15th August, was told 2 week wait, but only received them this week.

I’m in the West Midlands.

[areyouafraidofthedark]

I had mine done in April and took 9 weeks.

[onthecoins]

Oh no, when I had abnormal cells a few years ago I heard from them in about 6 days. I think the long wait is just admin if it's clear.

[Unwrittenrule]

I was told 2 weeks and it actually took 9 weeks, West Midlands area if that's any help.

[justbeingelle]

Mine took around 1 week, I was told it would take up to 12 weeks.

[OctoberLovers]

I had one. Results were back the week after.... Suffolk

[BelaLug0si]

Hi
It isn't quicker if it's abnormal, as no one knows whether there is anything wrong with the cells until they are looked at.
The results get sent out from the lab pretty much as soon as the sample is read.
If the result shows that further investigation is needed, then that may be a 2 week wait appointment at colposcopy, depending on the abnormality.
There is a big difference between areas because of the conversion to primary HPV. Most of the labs in England are closing down and the samples will be sent for processing to one of 8 centres.

The latest data I saw recently does show a variation of between 2 - 10 weeks. Staff are leaving the labs which are closing down. Unfortunately it's going to be a difficult time to manage.

@twinkletoes33 the practice where you had your sample taken should be able to tell you what the current turnaround time is.

[ChocOrCheese]

I was told 12 weeks but I would hear back sooner if there was a problem.

I was in such a hurry to get out of there I didn't ask how that could be. I mean, do they check everything within a week and then say "oh, that's normal, she can wait another 11 weeks before we bother to tell her"?

[BelaLug0si]

@ChocOrCheese
Have a read back of my posts for the explanation of why it is taking so long for results to go out.
There are more samples been sent in to labs then there are staff to process and read them. This is an ongoing problem, exacerbated by the current project to close the majority of the screening labs.
Hopefully things will start to improve next year.