Alberta to change the way it screens for cervical cancer

The Alberta government is replacing the routine Pap smear with a newer screening test to detect the risk of cervical cancer in women. 

Pap smears typically detect abnormal or cancerous cells in the cervix.

The new tests screen for high-risk types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes most cervical cancers.

Dr. Jack Pang, medical lead at the Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program, said the new test is more effective than Pap smears when it comes to detecting cancer risks.

"The [screening test] not only is able to detect cancers better, but potentially earlier, thus allowing for even earlier treatment options for our population," he said.

Pang said the new screening test would extend the interval of time between each test.

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

So far, Alberta is offering the new cervical cancer screening test to those aged 50 to 69, with plans to expand the test to those aged 25 to 49.

Pang said women will still need to go to the doctor for a sample to be collected.

“Instead of running for the Pap test, they run the HPV test,” he said.

“Eventually though, we expect that Alberta will get self-sampling kits available for our population, so that instead of seeing your provider to collect that sample, our population can do that themselves.”

Alberta, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador conducted self-screening pilot projects last year. 

The Alberta government said once the program is fully rolled out, it will no longer make Pap smears routine when it comes to diagnosing cervical cancer.

Pang recommends all Albertans under 26 get the publicly funded HPV vaccine, which he said is the most effective preventative measure against cervical cancer.