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Changes to Cervical Screening
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Information for Doctors
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The self-collected HPV
test is not yet available in Queensland. You will be notified when
this test becomes available.
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On December 1, 2017, the Cervical Screening Test (CST) replaced the
Pap test.
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The CST is now the only Medicare-funded routine cervical screening
test, and will be available to women aged 25 to 74 years.
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Specimens need to be collected by clinicians into
ThinPrep® vials.
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Request forms must specify the requested test PLUS the reason for
test PLUS supporting clinical notes.
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A risk-based approach
The CST uses an HPV DNA test to detect the presence of oncogenic
HPV types known to be associated with a higher risk of developing
significant cervical abnormalities. The HPV test is more sensitive
than cytology, so it can be performed less frequently.
- Asymptomatic women who test negative for
oncogenic HPV are at low risk of developing cervical cancer
and only need to be screened every 5 years.
- Asymptomatic women who test positive for
oncogenic HPV will have a liquid-based cytology (LBC) test
performed on the same sample (reflex LBC) and will be assessed as
either intermediate risk and advised to return for further testing
in 12 months, or higher risk and referred for colposcopy.
- Symptomatic women and
those with a history of high-grade cervical pathology will have
both an HPV and LBC test (Co-test) performed, regardless
of their HPV result.
- Women with special
circumstances identified by the program may be offered more
frequent screening or a single screening test prior to age 25.
Available resources
In order to help you with the changes implemented on December 1,
2017, we have created a range of resources which are available for
download using the links below.
Clinician
Guide
Collection
Guide
Lubricant Guide
Flowcharts for 'Pathway for routine cervical screening' &
'Investigation of women with abnormal vaginal bleeding'
Flowcharts for 'Transition to the renewed National Cervical
Screening Program' & 'Test of Cure (ToC)'
CST Resources
Order Form
Additional
resources
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ThinPrep® Pap Test specimen collection video
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ThinPrep® Pap Test information for health care
professionals
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Cancer Council Australia Cancer Guidelines Wiki: National Cervical
Screening Program
Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities,
screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal
vaginal bleeding.
Education
events
Implementing the National Cervical Screening Program Renewal:
Getting it right
A collaboration event between the Cancer Screening Unit,
Preventive Health Branch of Queensland Health and Iris
Education.
Date: Saturday 17 March 2018 8.30am to 4.00pm
Location: Hub Auditorium, Sunshine Coast University
Hospital
Live streaming is available - watch from anywhere
Register
here via Iris Education
Contact
us
For further information on the new program, please contact our
Cytology Department on (07) 3377 8592.