A study looking at using urine to screen for cervical cancer (ACES)

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

Cervical cancer

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Other

This study is looking at whether doctors can use a urine test as an accurate alternative to the current cervical screening test (smear test).

More about this trial

Researchers have developed a urine test that detects the human papilloma virus (HPV Open a glossary item ). This is the virus that can cause cervical cancer. Many people have had HPV and their body deals with it. But for some people HPV might cause abnormal cells that could become cancer.

At the moment the only way to test for HPV is by doing a smear test Open a glossary item . This is done as part of the NHS cervical screening. However there are a number of reasons why some people are reluctant not to have the test. These include:

fear of having the screening test
finding the test uncomfortable
embarrassment
difficulty arranging an appointment

Researchers think that a urine test could overcome these barriers and so more people would have cervical screening.

In this study when you go for your routine cervical screening you would be asked to give a sample of urine before the test.

The aims of this study are to find out:

whether the urine test can detect HPV
whether the test can be used to screen for cervical pre cancer
how acceptable the urine test is

Please note you won’t get any direct benefit from taking part. The information gained from this study might help how people have cervical screening in the future.

Who can enter

The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.

Who can take part

You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You are:

part of the NHS cervical screening programme or are seeing the doctor because you have an abnormal cervical screening result
24 to 70 years old

Who can’t take part

You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:

are pregnant
have had a hysterectomy
can’t give a urine sample
have another medical condition or mental health problem that the study team think could affect you taking part

Trial design

The study team need up to 2,000 women who are having cervical screening to take part.

When you go for your next screening appointment:

• a member of the team will ask you about your medical history Open a glossary item
• you give a urine sample

You do the urine sample before seeing the GP for your smear test. A member of the staff tells you how to take the sample.

You must not pass urine in the hour before giving the urine sample.

Optional questionnaire
You fill in a short questionnaire. It asks:

• what you think about having the cervical test and the urine test
• where you would prefer to do the screening in future for example at the GPs or at home

You don’t have to agree to do this questionnaire.