From 1 December 2017, Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) will undergo renewal (the Renewal Program), in which the 2-yearly Pap smear program will be replaced with a 5-yearly HPV test (the Cervical Screening Test).
The Cervical Screening Test is predicted to be more effective at reducing incidence, improving early detection and reducing mortality from cervical cancer. The Pap test looked for cell changes in the cervix, whereas the Cervical Screening Test looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cell changes in the cervix and lead to cervical cancer.
For more information about the changes, visit the National Cervical Screening Program.
View the media release from the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt MP: New cervical cancer test is great news for Australian women