Cervical screening in Canada, 2023-24
About this section
This section describes tests and modalities used in cervical screening within Canada, including Pap tests and HPV tests.
Primary cervical screening test used
Pap testing is commonly used as the primary screening test for cervical cancer in all jurisdictions. One 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.
For Pap testing, conventional cytology and liquid-based cytology are used across Canada, with some jurisdictions using both. Most provincial and territorial cervical screening programs base their terminology on the 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas for standardized cytology reporting.
Cervical screening programs in Canada are continuously evolving. The data in this section is accurate as of October 2023. For more current information, please reference each jurisdiction’s program website.
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 | Planning to implement HPV reflex (triage) testing of cytology results in 2023 | ✓ (2021) | 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 | ✓ Implemented change in May 2023 |
✓‡ | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas | |
| NL | ✓ (2008) | 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas |
*YT: YT using conventional cytology; plan to move to LBC using 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas.
^ON: A small number of labs use conventional cytology.
~NB: To standardize to 2014 Bethesda Cervical Cytology Atlas with Fall 2023 revised Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations.
**NS: One lab uses liquid-based cytology for Paps, done on-site at the hospital.
‡PE: Liquid-based cytology is used for reflex testing, vaginal vault smears, and in a transition phase to follow-up on previous abnormal Paps.