Cervical screening and self-col

15 June 2022

The self-collection policy will be changing from July 2022. From 1st of July all women and people with a cervix screening under the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) will have the choice to screen using either a self-collected vaginal sample or a clinician-collected sample.

Primary health professionals will maintain a central role in consulting with women about the option of self-collection. To support the self-collection policy change, the NCSP: Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding have been reviewed and updated.

You can access the updated guidelines on the Cancer Council Australia website or download a PDF version using this link. The partial update to the guidelines has been informed by best available evidence and will come into effect on 1 July 2022.

As cervical screening saves lives, this expanded choice in screening options has the potential to increase participation in cervical screening further.

National Cervical Screening Program resources including fact sheets and education modules will be made available to health professionals in the coming months.

Find out about the Cancer Institute NSW and Royal College of General Practitioners upcoming webinar on self-collection.

Further details here