Cervical screening in Canada, 2023-24
Follow-up after an abnormal Pap test
Result letters are sent to participants and/or primary care providers after an abnormal screening result. Five jurisdictions send follow-up notifications to both participants and primary care providers. Two jurisdictions follow-up with primary care providers only, while three jurisdictions follow-up with participants only.
Follow-up for abnormal Pap test results
| P/T | Result letter to PCP from lab | Result letter to participant | Reminder letter to PCP | Reminder letter to participant |
| YT | – | – | – | – |
| NT | ✓ PCP receives results electronically in EMR from lab |
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| NU | ✓ | |||
| BC | ✓ | ✓ Abnormal results only |
✓ Facilitated referral to local colposcopy clinic. First reminder sent to colposcopy clinic, second reminder to PCP |
|
| AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ High-grades where no follow-up has occurred |
✓ High-grades where no follow-up has occurred |
| SK | ✓ (electronic) | ✓ | ✓ Reminder letter sent to physicians when repeat Pap test is due or if colposcopy referral is dueOutstanding reminder letter sent (after initial reminder letter) to healthcare providers if follow-up Pap test or colposcopy result is not received. This letter will continue to be sent every six months until follow-up has been received |
✓ Reminder letter sent to client when repeat Pap test is due or if colposcopy is dueOutstanding reminder letter sent (after initial reminder letter) to client if the follow-up Pap test or colposcopy is not received. This letter will continue to be sent every six months until follow-up has been received |
| MB | ✓ | ✓ For all high-grade Pap test results; sent if necessary for low-grade Pap where follow-up has not occurred |
✓ | ✓ |
| ON | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Written reminder letters are delivered to physician offices by member lab courier networks |
✓ |
| QC* | ||||
| NB | ✓ | ✓ When follow-up testing is overdue, based on NB CPGs |
✓ Sent 6–12 months after PCP follow-up correspondence is sent, if no follow up is completed |
|
| NS | ✓ | ✓ Reminder letters mailed to PCP when it appears that a patient with a significant abnormality has not been appropriately managed |
||
| PE^ | ✓ For provincial Pap results |
✓ For participants of cervical screening clinics |
✓ For provincial Pap results |
✓ For provincial Pap results, sent to patient after 12 months if no follow-up was completed |
| NL | ✓ | ✓ |
*QC: The Pap test report is accessible in the Québec Health Record and the HPV report is faxed to the physician or SNP.
*PE: PCPs receive results and reminders for follow-up from the lab if follow-up was not initiated after 3, 6, 9, 12, and 21 months. Participants of cervical cancer screening at provincial cervical screening clinics receive result letter.
-YT: No information was provided at the time data were collected.