Pathlab is celebrating the launch of a new medical instrument which is expected to provide easier access to cervical screening while eliminating ethnic disparities with cervical cancer.

Thanks to the new BD COR instrument, the primary test for cervical screening will change from cytology [testing the cells of a cervix] to HPV testing, with the option of self-testing.

A Pathlab spokesperson says the launch is expected to “provide easier access” to cervical screening services, and will help achieve a milestone set by the World Health Organisation.

“The WHO has launched a global strategy to ‘eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, [by achieving] an incidence rate of less than 4 in 100,000 women.”

“Pathlab was the second laboratory in the world to go-live with the full BD COR system. Outside of US/Europe, we are the largest operator of this specialised analyser.”

Celebrating the launch of the machine, Labour Party spokesperson for women Jan Tinetti says she is "so impressed to see Tauranga leading the way with innovation that will make such a positive difference to so many women in this region".

Labour Party spokesperson for women Jan Tinetti officially cutting the ribbon on the BD COR system. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

"HPV primary screening is expected to result in increased uptake and reduced mortality in our communities," says Tinetti.

"Congratulations to all for making this happen."

The Pathlab spokesperson says so far, the National Cervical Screening Programme has made “great progress” through the implementation of the screening process to bring this down, but “more needs to be done” to achieve the WHO goal.

“There remain significant ethnic disparities, with disproportionately high cancer rates in Māori and Pacific people. 85 per cent of people who develop cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand either have never been screened or have been screened infrequently.”

In December 2021, a request for proposal was released with three providers to provide laboratory testing for human papillomavirus, also known as HPV.

“Pathlab has the NCSP HPV and cytology contracts for Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Lakes, Hawkes Bay, Tairawhiti, MidCentral and Whanganui regions," says the Pathlab spokesperson.

“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.”