The cervical smear is effective in detecting the precursor lesions of cervical cancer. With appropriate treatment invasive carcinoma may be prevented. For a smear to have maximum diagnostic value, it must contain sufficient numbers of well-preserved cells from the transformation zone of the cervix where most malignancies develop. A major cause of a non-diagnostic smear is poor sampling. A new sampling device, the Cervex-Brush, has been touted as being capable of producing a superior specimen compared with the modified Ayre's spatula, which is the most widely used cervical sampler in Hong Kong. When evaluated on 500 women presenting for a smear at a community cervical screening clinic, the Cervex-Brush was found to produce a good quality sample as judged by the presence of endocervical and/or metaplastic cells, lack of blood, and the thickness of the cell sample. In the drive to ensure that cervical smears are of the highest quality, the Cervex-Brush is worthy of further evaluation for routine use. Although it is significantly more expensive, the extra costs could be offset by the substantial savings that can accrue from having a smaller number of substandard samples and the need to repeat smears.