Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Evaluation of human -papillomavirus testing and visual inspection for cervical cancer 
screening in Rwanda  
 
Version: 1 Date: 23 Dec 2017  
 
Reviewer: Marion Saville  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This paper addresses the important question of how to balance feasibility vs. effectiveness  in the 
delivery of cervical screening in LMIC settings.  
I would suggest that the discussion includes some reference to random access point of care tests, 
based on PCR being a possible solution to the problems encountered in this study.  This 
technology wa s used in the Papua New Guinea study referred to in the manuscript (Toliman et 
al).  Further it would be worth contacting the Papua New Guinea investigators to see if a peer 
reviewed manuscript was available for citation rather than the conference abstract . 
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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 have no competing financial interests.  I am also involved in similar projects, particularly with 
respect to enabling effective cervical screening in LMIC settings.  
 
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