Physician Directory
Clinic Directory
Contact usEffective Wednesday, Nov. 5, cervical cancer screening of eligible individuals aged 50 – 69 will transition to primary high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing.
Please note: It is the same speculum exam.
The transition aims to support earlier detection, longer screening intervals, and improved access through self-sampling.
For people aged 25 – 49, planning for provincial access to HPV primary screening is ongoing. For now, those patients will continue to be screened using Pap tests.
There is no change to the sample collection and lab submission process for HPV primary screening. However, referral decisions will now be based on HPV genotype and cervical cytology results.
Primary care providers will continue to receive lab results and follow-up letters for patients who identify them as their provider. If a patient has a positive HPV result, they may seek providers’ support for follow-up testing.
Please note: Self-sampling, a vaginal swab that patients can do on themselves to detect high-risk HPV, is not yet available outside of a pilot.
Resources are available, including an overview and FAQ, clinical pathway, and follow-up instructions. There is also a lab bulletin.
Newborn hearing screening: Patients’ newborns can be screened for permanent congenital hearing loss. Newborn hearing screening and audiological diagnostic results dating from Oct. 1, 2025, are now available on Netcare.