When you have a smear test, your smear taker will send some information to be stored on the National Cervical Screening Programme Register. This ensures you get your reminders and any follow-up you need, even if you change smear takers.

The register stores:

• all your test results
• information on any assessment or treatment you have received
• your next reminder date
• your NHI number (National Health Index number)
• contact details for sending results.

Your privacy is important – all your information is stored under the Health Information Privacy Code and the Health Act.

Who can access your information

The information collected by the programme is stored on a computer system called the NCSP Register which is managed by the Ministry of Health.

Your cervical screening information may be provided to your health provider (GP, public hospital or health provider managing your care) to make sure you are reminded about your next test and to check that your results are followed up on.

Grouped data (without identifying information) from the register may be provided to people like researchers, or for quality or teaching purposes. There are additional safeguards for Māori women’s data: anyone external who wants to access this data needs to apply to the National Kaitiaki Group for approval.

If you don’t want your information on the register

If you don’t want your information on the register, you and your smear taker will need to work out the best way to manage your reminders and results.

You can find out how to withdraw at Enrolment in the cervical screening programme.

For further information about the National Cervical Screening Programme, call 0800 729 729.