National Cervical Screening Programme - HPV Primary Screening
Visit the Te Whatu Ora website for current information about NCSP HPV Primary Screening:
https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-health-sector/ncsp-hpv-screening/...
For consumer information
If you're looking for information about cervical screening, visit Time to Screen or phone 0800 729 729.
If you need help finding support to screen, you will find information here: Screening Support Services.
Across the country there are approximately 7300 smear takers, mostly general practitioners and nurses and seven laboratories providing cytology, HPV and histology testing services to the programme.
The 20 district health boards (DHBs) are contracted by the NSU to provide colposcopy services. There is also the option to be seen privately for colposcopy.
Fifteen DHBs provide NCSP regional services, including regional coordination of NCSP services, health promotion, and liaison with key organisations and people relevant to cervical screening. Thirteen of the 20 DHBs have been contracted to provide NCSP-Register services.
The National Screening Unit (NSU) also contracts 12 independent service providers to provide screening support services for those who need additional support to be screened or attend colposcopy services.
From late 2023, the primary test for cervical screening will change from cytology (testing the cells of the vagina or cervix) to human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, with the option of self-testing.
In November 2019 the NCSP raised the recommended starting age for screening to 25 years for any person with a cervix or vagina who has ever been sexually active. People aged 20–25 years who have already started screening, including those with abnormal cytology, will continue to be recalled and managed as advised by their health provider in accordance with the NCSP Guidelines.
Since the NCSP began in 1990 the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by about 50 percent. In 2017 the incidence of cervical cancer was 6.1 per 100,000 women.
There has also been a steady decline in cervical cancer mortality since the NCSP began of about 60 percent. In 2016 cervical cancer mortality was 1.7 per 100,000 women.
In this section
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The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) uses HPV testing as the primary screening test.
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The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) uses HPV testing as the primary screening test. Visit the Te Whatu Ora website for current information about NCSP HPV Primary Screening: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-health-sector/ncsp-hpv-screening/... The information below is provided only as archive reference material. This page provides easy access to a range of documents and resources relating to the National Cervical Screening Programme and the HPV Primary Screening Project (including Clinical Practice Guidelines). It will be regularly updated as new information and materials become available.
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This section contains role-specific information.
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Contact the National Cervical Screening Programme in your area to request an updated screening history for your patients or for any information on cervical screening.
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The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) uses HPV testing as the primary screening test. Visit the Te Whatu Ora website for current information about NCSP HPV Primary Screening: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-health-sector/ncsp-hpv-screening/... The information below is provided only as archive reference material.
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A number of changes aimed at improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of the Programme took effect from 7 March 2005.
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Coverage is an important performance indicator for all those involved in the NCSP at both regional and national levels. Coverage is defined as the proportion of women eligible for screening who have been screened in the previous three years.
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The NCSP Advisory and Action Rōpū will provide leadership to deliver high quality cervical screening outcomes for whānau Māori and Pacific Peoples, and high-risk wāhine through developing knowledge around ways to effectively deliver, monitor, and improve health outcomes with a Māori and Pacific focus.