The British Columbia (BC) government announced on January 9 that it will shift cervical cancer testing to HPV (human papillomavirus) screening. The provincial government says this will make British Columbia the first province in Canada to offer at-home cervical cancer testing.
Until now, the main method of testing for cervical cancer was the Pap test, but there were problems such as having to go to a medical institution. HPV screening is easy for test subjects to perform on their own and is said to be more accurate than the Pap test. Pap tests are recommended every three years, while HPV screening is recommended every five years. You can request a screening kit from January 29th.
Samples collected at home can be taken directly to the lab or sent by mail. Results will be available in 4 to 6 weeks. In 2021, the state government conducted an HPV screening pilot project that attracted many participants, including those who had never had a cervical cancer test or who hadn’t had one in a while. Premier David Eby said at a press conference that around 200 people in the state are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.
The government hopes more people will get tested and says, “this program will save lives.” The traditional Pap test will also continue, and people will now be able to choose between HPV screening and Pap testing.