Testing for human papillomavirus is helping to detect cancer-causing infections sooner than the previous Pap smear testing program, Melbourne researchers say.
A test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) replaced Pap smear testing in December 2017, under the national cervical screening program.
A study found more than three times as many referrals for a colposcopy, a procedure to examine the cervix for signs of disease, based on HPV tests than referrals based on Pap smears.
The researchers said the referral rate based on the HPV sample results for women of recommended screening age (2.6 per cent) was considerably higher than that based on historical cytology (Pap) results from a laboratory (0.8 per cent).
"The higher rate is broadly consistent with clinical trial data and predictions from modelling," said the researchers, who are led by Dr Dorothy Machalek from the Centre for Women's Infectious Diseases at Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne.
The study, published on Monday by the Medical Journal of Australia, said the national program was performing as expected during the initial HPV screening round.
