AND the starting age for screening will go up from 18 to 25 years.
While the Pap smear will be replaced with a human papillomavirus (HPV) test, the method for taking a cervical tissue sample won’t change.
NPS MedicineWise announced the new national program on Thursday, while urging women to continue their two-yearly tests until it begins.
Women also should consider cervical screening whether they have had HPV vaccinations or not.
The vaccines protect against the viruses responsible for most, but not all, cervical cancers.
Australia has very low rate of new cervical cancer cases and deaths, attributable to the national screening program which has been running for the past 24 years, says Dr Robyn Lindner from NPS MedicineWise.
“We’ll be the second country in the world after the Netherlands to incorporate primary HPV testing into the national screening program.
“The program will continue to enable early detection and treatment of cervical cell abnormalities, and will better identify women at risk of pre-cancerous changes and cervical cancer.
“This also means fewer screening tests over your lifetime, from about 26 with Pap smears, down to nine or 10 with the new program.”
It will also allow women who have not attended screening regularly, or ever, to self-collect a vaginal sample.