The new name for the Pap smear. Free under Medicare, every 5 years, ages 25–74. Self-collection is now an option.
The Cervical Screening Test (CST) replaced the Pap smear in Australia in December 2017. Where the old Pap test looked at cell changes under a microscope, the CST tests for the human papillomavirus (HPV) — the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers.
The CST is more accurate at detecting risk than the old Pap test, which is why most people only need it every 5 years instead of every 2. HPV-related changes develop slowly, so 5-yearly testing detects significant changes in time.
📋 Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care — National Cervical Screening Program. RACGP Red Book 2025.
If you've ever been sexually active and have a cervix, you're eligible — this includes people who are pregnant, transgender, or no longer sexually active. Your GP can advise on personal circumstances (history of HPV, immunosuppression, or any symptoms like unusual bleeding).
HPV is very common in young women, but the immune system clears it without harm in the vast majority of cases. Screening before 25 detected lots of HPV that would have resolved on its own, leading to unnecessary procedures. The HPV vaccine (offered at school, age 12–13) further reduces the need for early screening.
Since July 2022, all eligible people can choose self-collection instead of a clinician-collected sample. You take your own sample with a small swab in a private space at the clinic — your GP, nurse, or eligible health worker still needs to be involved, but they don't need to perform the speculum examination.
Self-collection is just as accurate as a clinician-collected sample for detecting HPV. It's a real option for people who find the speculum exam uncomfortable, have experienced trauma, or simply prefer privacy. Ask your GP or nurse about it when you book.
It should not hurt. Most people say it takes a couple of minutes. If you have any difficulty, your nurse or GP can help, or take the swab for you without a speculum — just ask.
Both find HPV equally well. The difference is what happens if HPV (not 16/18) is detected:
If HPV 16 or 18 is detected, the next step is the same either way: referral for colposcopy.
📋 Source: National Cervical Screening Program — Updated NCSP Clinical Guidelines in effect from April 2025; self-collection universally available since 1 July 2022 (practitioner-supported model). Cancer Council Australia patient instructions. AIHW NCSP monitoring report 2025 (Nov 2025). Verified June 2026.
Tap your result to see what usually happens next. This is general information — your GP will explain what applies to you.
An abnormal CST result is not a cancer diagnosis. It tells your GP what to do next — repeat in 12 months, or refer for closer examination. Most people who need follow-up do not have cancer.