The new Cervical Screening Test in 2018 involves having a pap smear in the same way that you are used to, but the laboratory looks for the Human Papilloma Virus.
The cytology (cells) is only looked for if you prove to be positive for the Human Papilloma Virus.
This new test has been shown to be more accurate, and if you do not test positive for the Human Papilloma Virus, your pap smear needs to be repeated in five years.
If you screen positive for the Human Papilloma Virus, the follow-up depends on whether you test positive for the high-risk virus (virus 16 or 18) or if you are positive for the low-risk virus.