Interview - Dr Kerryn Phelps, Health Editor, with Tracey Grimshaw, Channel Nine 'Today'

PHELPS: Good morning, Tracey.

COMPERE: Let's talk about pap tests, first. Do you think that the credibility of pap tests have taken a bit of a battering in the minds of women in the past few days?

PHELPS: One of the real dangers of reports like these, is that women will think 'well what's the point of going along and having a pap smear if the result is going to be unreliable.' But I think that women can be reassured that it is, because we have quality standards and accreditation of our labs, that these kind of errors were actually picked up, that the problem with standards in those small labs was picked up. If women have any concerns at all, about whether the pap smear that they had, went to that particular lab, they can simply ask their GP and just say, 'where was my pap test sent to?' and ensure that it wasn't one of the labs in question.

COMPERE: How hard is it to get an accurate result in a pap test, because it takes a reasonable skill level to pick the difference between a normal or an abnormal cell, doesn't it?

PHELPS: Well, there are a lot of steps along the way, and one of them is for the woman to actually turn up and have the pap smear done every two years, and that's Step 1, and sometimes that seems to be the most difficult thing. Then to have a GP who is experienced in being able to do the pap test, to get the right type of cells, which are cells up into the cervix as well as around the outside. That can be reported in the pap smear, to make sure that you got all of those right kind of cells. It then goes to the lab.

There's an extra test that can be done on cervical cells, which is called a Thin Prep and that's a separate test which is scanned by computer, so it's yet another safeguard. And, of course, the labs have very stringent accreditation requirements. Of course, there are now calls for those to be even reviewed now, to make sure that they're as stringent as they need to be.

COMPERE: I want to get on to more general tests. Just on that Thin Prep, would you recommend that most women should get one?

PHELPS: I think it's up to them to ask their doctor about it. I would certainly recommend it. It's not covered by Medicare, so you'd be paying out of pocket for that. But, I think, just as an extra safeguard it's worth it, particularly if you've ever had an abnormal smear.

COMPERE: Alright, so we've focused on pap tests. But what other - I mean, there are a vast array of tests that women should really keep on top of shouldn't they?

PHELPS: A lot of it depends on your age. I think from the age of 20, if you know what your cholesterol level is and have that done about every five years. If you examine your own breasts, I think that's important. You can have your blood pressure checked, and that's generally done when you come along for a check-up, or to have your pill prescription, or your contraception revised. Have a urine test, to check for glucose for diabetes, and to know that your ideal weight, and your doctor will measure your height and weight and will be able to compare the two to make sure that your body mass index, or your body proportions are in the healthy range.

COMPERE: Okay, the list continues, of course. Which of these that we're looking at on the screen and that we've already talked about, become more important, say, as you get older? And what would be the age at which we all have to become more vigilant?

PHELPS: Well, I think skin checks are important at any age, but certainly, as you get older and your skin has had more exposure to the sun, then skin checks become even more important. And certainly, if you've got any sores that won't heal, any bumps or lumps that you're concerned about, any change of colour of a mole, that should send you scurrying along for a full skin check.

Bone density test is something that should be done around about a woman's 40's. Menopausal symptoms will start to come along usually in the 40's, early 50's. So, knowing your bone density, you can make some preparations, and certainly, if you have any signs of bone weakening, osteoporosis, you would be much more inclined to be just talking to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. Mammograms, of course, every two years…

COMPERE: Sure.

PHELPS: At the moment we're recommending that from the age of 50, but some women, earlier. And a test called a colonoscopy, for bowel cancer, from about the mid-40's to 50, and that should be every three to five years if you don't have bowel polyps. If you're found to have polyps in your bowel, more frequently.

COMPERE: Okay. Thanks, Kerryn.

PHELPS: Thank you.

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