Cervical cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
About this section
This section describes tests and modalities used in cervical cancer screening within Canada, including Pap tests and HPV tests.
Modalities for cervical screening
Currently in all jurisdictions, the Pap test is used as the primary screening test for cervical cancer. Conventional cytology and liquid-based cytology are both used across Canada, with some jurisdictions only using one cytology and others using both. Most provincial and territorial cervical screening programs base their terminology on the 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas for standardized cytology reporting.
No jurisdiction is currently using HPV testing as the primary screening test; however many jurisdictions are working towards this switch as part of efforts to advance the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
Primary cervical screening test used
| P/T | HPV Testing | Pap Testing/Cytology: Conventional cytology | Pap Testing/Cytology: Liquid-based cytology | Reporting system for standardized cervical cytology reporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT* | ✓ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| NT | ✓ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| NU | ✓ | 3rd Edition Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology (2015) | ||
| BC | ✓ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| AB | ✓ (2009) | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| SK | ✓ | ✓ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | |
| MB | ✓ (2014) | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| ON | ✓^ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| QC | ✓ | ✓ | Standardized reports are currently under development and not yet available to clinicians | |
| NB | ✓ | ✓ | 2001 and 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | |
| NS | ✓ | ✓~ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | |
| PE | ✓ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | ||
| NL | ✓ (2008) | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas |
YT: *YT using conventional cytology; plan to move to liquid-based cytology using 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas
ON: ^A small number of labs use conventional cytology
NS: ~One lab uses liquid-based cytology for Paps done on-site at the hospital