Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that from 2018, cervical smear tests will be analysed for HPV rather than cytology.

Our national medical advisor Dr Christine Roke says the change to the way smear samples are tested will give a more accurate result and will allow for five-yearly smear tests.

“Our clients won’t notice any change to the way we take cervical smear tests,” Dr Roke says. “The change is in the laboratory where the samples are tested. They will be using a new technology that gives a more accurate result.” 

Dr Roke says the best protection from cervical cancer is to have the HPV vaccination and to have regular cervical smear tests.

Read more about the change to the cervical smear programme.