The HSE has confirmed that around 11,500 women have been affected by a Cervical Check testing problem between 2015 and last year.
A review was ordered after an external lab highlighted a problem with the use of out-of-date testing kits for the HPV virus.
The HSE says there is no reason to check women who had tested positive on the original out-of-date test.
But around 5,000 women from the original group have been asked back for re-checks.
The clinical risk to women’s health is low and the re-tests are precautionary, according to the HSE.
Around 3,000 women availed of the re-check offer, but the HSE cannot say how many tested positive as it has not collated this information.
Earlier this year, the HSE had put the number of women invited for re-screening between 2015 and 2018 at around 4,000.
