Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Evaluation of human -papillomavirus testing and visual inspection for cervical cancer 
screening in Rwanda  
 
Version: 2 Date: 31 Mar 2018  
 
Reviewer: Marion Saville  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I am sorry that my reference to "Random access" tests was unclear.  I mean tests that can be 
carried out one or more at a time at the point of care (Such as Cephied GeneExpert as used by 
Toliman et al in Papua New Guinea).  I raise this because,in the dis cussion, the authors refer to a 
failure of careHPV to be able to support a 1 -visit screen -and-treat algorithm due to "collection of 
90 samples coupled with 3.5 hour testing run." These are features of careHPV but not features of 
all POC HPV tests. The requ irement to "batch" tests is a problem for feasibility in low resource 
settings.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please speci fy which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or wou ld you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written Engl ish 
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptabl e 
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursemen ts, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an org anization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all o f the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name w ill be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available u nder an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not b e published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal