HPV testing guide for general practice

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HPV Primary Screening: an overview of the programme

• HPV testing is now the primary cervical screening test in New Zealand
• A HPV test detects the presence of DNA from certain types of HPV that are known to cause cervical cancer. This can identify people at risk for abnormal cell changes and therefore, those who require further testing.
• Eligibility to participate in the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) remains the same, i.e. people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 years who have ever been sexually active
• Screening is, however, extended for people aged 70 – 74 years who are unscreened or under-screened
• A new population-based cervical screening register using NHI number has been implemented (NCSP-R); obtain consent for registering with the NCSP if this is the first ever cervical screening test
• The screening interval has changed to five-yearly after a “HPV Not detected” result for most people; people who are immune deficient should be screened three-yearly (this needs to be changed on the NCSP register and indicated on the laboratory form)
• A repeat HPV test in one year is not needed after the first ever cervical screening test if HPV is not detected
• Practices are responsible for recalls, but the register is a “back-up”
• The NCSP-R can be used to find participants cervical screening information
• The screen taker workforce for HPV testing includes (as of November, 2024):
• “Cervical sample takers”. Doctors and midwives or a healthcare professional who has completed a NZQA-accredited training course in cervical screening; all cervical sample takers are recommended to complete the online learning modules on HPV testing.
• “HPV screen takers”. Registered health practitioners (e.g. registered or enrolled nurse, nurse practitioner) who are not accredited cervical sample takers but have completed the online learning modules on HPV testing and are working in a professional partnership with a responsible clinician^*. HPV screen takers can only facilitate HPV testing, i.e. they cannot take a LBC sample.

* A “responsible clinician” is a cervical sample taker who has completed the online HPV testing learning modules and has at least 12 months experience as a cervical sample taker

• “HPV screening kaimahi”. Unregistered staff and clinicians working in NCSP regional teams or screening support services can facilitate HPV testing if they meet certain criteria – click here for further details. HPV screening kaimahi can only facilitate HPV testing, i.e. they cannot take a LBC sample. N.B. Non-clinical staff working in primary care providers are not currently included in this pathway.

Practice tip. If you change the gender of a patient who is biologically female in their clinical record, ensure they remain in the practice recall system for cervical screening and are enrolled with the National Cervical Screening Programme.

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Conducting HPV testing

What type of sample to take?

• HPV testing can be performed from one of the following samples:
  • A vaginal swab taken by the patient (i.e. a self-test)
  • A vaginal swab taken by a screen taker
  • Liquid-based cytology (LBC) taken by a cervical sample taker. This sample type will only be tested for HPV initially (in routine screening). If HPV is detected, reflex cytology will then be performed.
• A LBC sample for both HPV and cytology testing is required for people:
  • With symptoms (note specific symptoms on the laboratory form)
  • Needing a test of cure (note on the laboratory form that a co-test is required for a test of cure)
  • Needing a co-test for follow-up, e.g. people with completely excised HPV negative or HPV status unknown adenocarcinoma in situ (clinical details must be noted on the laboratory form)
• A LBC sample may be a pragmatic choice in the following scenarios so that if HPV is detected, a return visit is not required (as reflex cytology will be performed on the same sample):
  • People with previous low-grade results who have not returned to regular screening
  • At 12 or 24 month follow-up after a “HPV Detected Type Other” result
  • People with immune deficiency – this is because people with immune deficiency should be referred for colposcopy if HPV of any type is detected and where possible this should be informed by cytology results
  • People who may find follow-up difficult, e.g. live rurally, unlikely or unable to return
• Some people may also prefer for a clinician  (i.e. a cervical sample taker) to perform a speculum examination and take a LBC sample for their cervical screen
• Refer to the clinical practice guidelines for HPV testing and/or cytology recommendations in special clinical circumstances, e.g. people with cervical lesions, after hysterectomy, follow-up after colposcopy or treatments

How to conduct the test

• When a person is due for cervical screening, a consultation with a screen taker is required to discuss the test, including which sample collection method is most appropriate, and to gain informed consent for HPV testing (record in patient notes). Advise patients who choose a vaginal swab that they may need to return for further testing if HPV is detected.
• HPV self-testing should usually be carried out at the practice. HPV is highly transmissible, so to reduce the risk of HPV cross contamination, provide a suitable space for self-testing where the person can wash their hands prior to and after testing and dispose of any rubbish. Provide self-swabbing instructions to patients; these can be downloaded or ordered from HealthEd or your laboratory provider if needed.
• At the discretion of the screen taker, a patient may do their HPV self-test at another location, e.g. their home, but must return the sample to the practice. It is the screen taker’s responsibility to follow up that this has occurred (the time required for this follow-up may be a factor in the decision to offer off-site testing).

When can you stop HPV testing?

• People can exit the cervical screening programme from age 65 years (or age 67 years if immune deficient) if they have a “HPV Not detected” result and are not in follow-up for abnormal cytology or histology
• People aged 70 – 74 years who have been unscreened or under-screened prior to age 70 years should have a HPV test and can exit the programme once HPV is not detected. This includes people transitioning from the cytology-based programme without two consecutive normal cytology results after the age of 62 years, and people who have already transitioned to the new screening programme who have not had a negative HPV test in the five years prior to age 70 (or three years prior to age 70 if immune deficient).

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Facts and tips about HPV testing

• HPV testing can be done during menstruation if necessary (although not preferable), but occasionally excessive blood on the swab may cause invalid results and a repeat test will be needed (the repeat test would be funded)
• HPV testing (including from a LBC sample if needed) can be done during pregnancy and postpartum. Patients should still be referred for colposcopy if required, but biopsy may be delayed.
• Vaginal oestrogen cream may be considered for vaginal atrophy if cervical screening is likely to be painful, but a swab cannot be taken if the sample will be obscured by cream
• Testing for STIs must be done on a different swab to the one being tested for HPV
• Recent HPV vaccination does not affect the results of HPV testing
• HPV can be latent and reactivate, so can be detected even if someone is not currently sexually active but has been in the past

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Samples and results

• Dry swabs are used for HPV testing (red top; wet swabs were phased out by September, 2024).
• Samples can be stored at room temperature before transport; although samples should be sent to the laboratory as soon as possible, swabs may be able to be processed up to one month after sampling.
• Results will either be: HPV Not detected, HPV Detected Type 16, HPV Detected Type 18, HPV Detected Type Other (some laboratories will say which type[s]), Invalid (sample processed but no result) or Unsuitable for analysis (e.g. not processed because the sample was leaking)
• The result report will include an overall recommendation. If HPV testing was facilitated by a HPV screen taker or HPV screening kaimahi, the overseeing clinician (the “responsible clinician”) is responsible for the management of the patient’s results, e.g. arranging appropriate referrals, follow-up and recalls.

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HPV testing results in brief

• If HPV Type 16 or 18 is detected (approximately 2.5% of results), refer for a colposcopy
• If HPV Type Other is detected (approximately 7.5% of results) on a vaginal swab, a return visit for a cervical LBC sample to be taken by a clinician (i.e. a cervical sample taker) with a speculum is required. If the HPV test was initially performed on a cervical sample, cytology will automatically be reported, and a return visit is not required. Next steps are dependent on cytology results – see Figure 1 for details.
• If HPV of any type is detected in a person who is immune deficient, they should be referred for colposcopy, informed by cytology test results where possible (but this should not delay referral)
• If HPV is not detected (approximately 90% of results), no further action is required – place a recall for screening in five years (or three years if immune deficient)

^*Cytology cannot be performed from a vaginal swab sample. If the HPV test was conducted from a vaginal swab sample, a return visit is required for a clinician-taken taken (i.e. by a cervical sample taker) cervical LBC sample with speculum examination.

^†Possible or definite high-grade cytology includes ASC-H, HSIL, SCC, atypical glandular cells, adenocarcinoma and AIS

Figure 1. HPV testing pathway for females who are asymptomatic in New Zealand. Adapted from Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cervical Screening in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023.

ASC-US = atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance; ASC-H = atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance cannot exclude HSIL; HSIL = high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; LSIL = low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; SCC = squamous cell carcinoma; AIS = adenocarcinoma in situ