Confused about smear results (letter attached)

[ImOddsAndEnds]

Had smear a couple of months ago, was told CIN3 was present and was sent on my way for (my second 🙄) LLETZ. At LLETZ appointment the nurse performing the procedure said she couldn't see any evidence of any grade of CIN at all but removed some tissue from 'further inside' just in case.

I've now had this letter through my door and I'm confused - surely it's either there or it isn't? Does anyone know what error might have been made here?

I think it means someone messed up your results so there will be an investigation as to why and what happened.

Most likely, someone contaminated your sample first time around and they are going to investigate who cocked up and start again in 6 months time.

Since the recent result showed no pre-cancerous changes, seems something might have been contaminated or misplaced earlier on…

Something similar happened to me once, not with a smear, they decided to re-test.

I would think that, worst case, something went wrong when they were reporting on the samples and you got a CIN3 result instead of an all clear, meaning someone else got an all clear instead of a CIN3. I appreciate it's bloody awful that you were put through unnecessary treatment and worry, but if this mix-up has happened, someone else needs a recall and they don't know who.

@tribpot This was my worry too but was hoping it was a really unrealistic scenario because I always tend to think of worst case. Really hoping that isn't the case!

Will they let me know what actually happened or will they just let me know my treatment going forward?