Victoria is now home to world-leading technology that will make it easier and faster for women across the state to screen for cervical cancer.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) to unveil its new BD COR Machine, which will make sure more women across Victoria can be screened for cervical cancer.
The first of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, the new machine means Victoria can now process a much higher volume of self-collected tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common infection that can cause cervical cancer.
Many women report that the traditional method of testing, done by a clinician, can be uncomfortable and can also be difficult to access – especially for women in regional Australia.
Allowing more women to self-test, in the comfort of their own home will reduce these barriers and ensure women who otherwise would have gone without a test are more likely to screen for cervical cancer – potentially saving lives.
The state government invested more than $400,000 to purchase the machine, which will help the ACPCC meet the growing demand for self-collected samples, following the introduction of self-collection as an option for all women participating in routine cervical screening.
More than 70 per cent of cervical cancers occur in those who have never screened or are overdue and self-collection will play a key role in our efforts toward the elimination of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer screening is recommended every five years for women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 74.
Ms Thomas said by allowing more women to self-test at home, the machine will reduce barriers and make it easier and faster to screen for cervical cancer.
“We’re proud to work in partnership with organisations like the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer on the journey to eliminating cervical cancer by 2030,” she said.
