As per the media reports, Auckland women would be given a "free of cost" cervical smear test - called "gold standard" - by Diagnostic Medlab.

As such, women can go in for the conventional pap smear for free, or the ThinPrep test for an additional payment.

It was informed by Diagnostic Medlab that the ThinPrep test and its accompanying screening system has been proved to be more effective for diagnosing abnormal cervical cells than the conventional pap smear method.

In September, Diagnostic Medlab's contract with Auckland's District Health Boards would expire, and will be passed on to LabTests from next month. However, they have the National Cervical Screening Programme contract until June next year.

According to Chief executive Arthur Morris, "Diagnostic Medlab will be collecting the samples directly from GPs and processing them at their own laboratory."

It has also been learnt that the company is mulling over the proposal of coming out with the free tests for women in Palmerston North and Christchurch.