North West Cytology Training Centre

The North West Cytology Training Centre (NWCTC) is a purpose-built teaching facility with dedicated ergonomic microscopy equipment and seminar facilities.

We provide high quality training and continuing professional development for staff throughout the UK.

NWCTC has been involved in the Liquid Based Cytology training (LBC) of other training centres, and laboratories in England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

A joint effort with Liverpool Training Centre meant that the North West region was the first in England to complete LBC roll-out training. Non-gynae courses covering a range of topics are now a regular part of the schedule.

NWCTC is linked to the Manchester Cytology Centre (MCC), which processes approximately 100,000 samples per year, with approximately 80,000 being screened on site.

We have close links with the virology department where HPV testing takes place, and also the histopathology department.

Medical staff at the MCC are often involved in the training of specialist registrars (SpRs) and senior house officers (SHOs), with links to the Manchester Senior House Officer Training School, with a regular circulation of trainee pathologists coming through the department.

NWCTC was one of only three training centres to gain full approval from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme at the first round of accreditation visits completed in October 2002, and has strived to maintain that standard, and to improve.