In December 2017 Australia replaced 2-yearly Pap smears with 5-yearly HPV testing.
- Who: women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 who have ever been sexually active, whether or not they have had the HPV vaccine.
- Test: a Cervical Screening Test detects oncogenic HPV. If HPV is found, a liquid-based cytology test is done on the same sample.
- Self-collection: since July 2022 everyone eligible can choose to collect their own vaginal sample, which is just as accurate for HPV. This helps people who avoid speculum exams, including many migrant and Aboriginal women.
Results pathway:
- HPV not detected: return in 5 years.
- HPV 16/18: refer directly to colposcopy.
- Other oncogenic HPV types: management depends on the cytology result.
Symptomatic people (post-coital or intermenstrual bleeding) need a diagnostic co-test and examination.
Australia aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035.