HPV screening to replace routine pap tests to diagnose cervical cancer in Alberta

In an attempt to eliminate cervical cancer, Alberta is replacing routine pap screening with HPV testing, saying HPV is the main cause of the cancer.

While routine pap tests have been the standard approach to identify cervical cancer in women, the province is now looking at HPV screening to replace it instead.

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Pap tests are currently recommended every three years, while the cervical cancer screening test recommendation is every five years.

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common infection spread through sexual contact.

“Scientific evidence indicates HPV testing is the more effective way to identify cervical cancer, and many provinces and territories are already transitioning to this approach instead of pap tests for routine cervical screening,” the province said in a Monday news release.

Cervical cancer is preventable and almost always caused by HPV, the province said.

Women won’t notice much of a difference, since they’ll still need to go to a doctor to have a sample collected. Eventually, people will be able to do it at home too.

“Self sampling allows a patient to collect a sample by themselves at a health provider’s office or even at home to be mailed back or delivered to the lab for testing, so that allows for increased access to testing,” Dr. Jack Pang, with the Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program told CTV News.

HPV testing started being offered to people aged 50 to 69 in November.

The province says planning is underway to expand the test to Albertans 25 to 49. Once that is in place, Primary Care Alberta says routine pap tests will no longer be offered.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nicole Weisbeg