{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T15:23:25Z","timestamp":1788276205336,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783036800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783036800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100013362","name":"Swiss Cancer Research Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["KFS\u20105415\u201008\u20102021"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["KFS\u20105415\u201008\u20102021"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100013362","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100031746","name":"Science for Africa Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100031746","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010269","name":"Wellcome Trust","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010269","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000780","name":"European Commission","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000780","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Diagnostic Cytopathology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Timely cervical cytology results are crucial for effective screening and early management of precancerous lesions. However, many low\u2010 and middle\u2010income countries face delays in turnaround time (TAT). This study assessed TAT for cytology screening results in South Africa from 2005 to 2023 and identified factors associated with TAT delays.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted a cross\u2010sectional analysis of public health routine program data from the National Health Laboratory Service for women aged \u2265\u200915\u2009years. We defined TAT as the time from sample collection to the release of results. The recommended TAT benchmark is 14\u2009days; we defined delays as TAT exceeding 14\u2009days. We used descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to assess TAT trends and factors associated with delays.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>From 2005 to 2023, 12,246,041 cervical cytology smears were processed. The median age at screening was 38.8\u2009years (IQR: 31.0\u201341.1), ranging from 15 to 95\u2009years. Median TAT consistently exceeded 14\u2009days, peaking at 25\u2009days between 2014 and 2019. Delays were significantly associated with location, with higher odds in self\u2010sufficient (aOR 2.33; 95% CI: 2.32\u20132.34) and laboratory\u2010dependent regions (aOR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.61\u20131.62). Samples processed in referral laboratories had higher odds of delay (aOR 4.08; 95% CI: 4.07\u20134.10). Seasonal variation also affected TAT delays, with higher odds observed in the third quarter (aOR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.39\u20131.40) as compared to the first quarter.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Throughout South Africa, cervical cytology TAT remains above the recommended benchmarks. Delays are driven by structural and operational factors. Strengthening laboratory capacity, optimizing workflows, and transitioning to organized screening programs are critical for timely results and improved cervical cancer prevention outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/dc.70170","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T07:42:52Z","timestamp":1783064572000},"page":"755-763","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Turnaround Time Trends in Cervical Cytology Screening in South Africa, 2005\u20132023"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"54","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-2994-0640","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sizeka","family":"Mashele","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Cancer Registry, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services  Johannesburg South Africa"},{"name":"Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute  Allschwil Switzerland"},{"name":"University of Basel  Basel Switzerland"},{"name":"Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics Martin\u2010Luther\u2010University Halle\u2010Wittenberg  Halle Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nditsheni","family":"Nethavhakone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Health Laboratory Services  Johannesburg South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1531-2897","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matshediso","family":"Mohlala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Cancer Registry, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services  Johannesburg South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7893-1839","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Peace","family":"Ayeni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute  Allschwil Switzerland"},{"name":"University of Basel  Basel Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Johannes","family":"Molomo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Department of Health  Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8552-2366","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Judith","family":"Mwansa\u2010Kambafwile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Cancer Registry, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services  Johannesburg South Africa"},{"name":"Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand  Johannesburg South Africa"},{"name":"School of Public Health, Health Sciences Faculty University of Cape Town  Cape Town South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7064-4424","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jaimie Z.","family":"Shing","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute  Rockville Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1955-1585","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julia","family":"Bohlius","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute  Allschwil Switzerland"},{"name":"University of Basel  Basel Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1955-923X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mazvita","family":"Muchengeti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Cancer Registry, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services  Johannesburg South Africa"},{"name":"Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand  Johannesburg South Africa"},{"name":"South African DSI\u2010NRF Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis Stellenbosch University  Stellenbosch South 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