New cervical test on track as laws pass

A new cervical cancer test set to make two-yearly pap smears a thing of the past is on track to be rolled out next year after legislation cleared federal parliament.

From May 1, women will only require a screening test once every five years, slashing the number of tests over a lifetime from 26 to 10.

The test will be administered by one national register, along with the bowel cancer screening program, after legislation passed the Senate on Thursday.