Cervical cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
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. Four jurisdictions follow-up with primary care providers only, while one jurisdiction follows-up with participants only.
Follow-up after an abnormal Pap test
| P/T | Result letter to PCP from lab | Result letter to participant | Reminder letter to PCP | Reminder letter to participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | ||||
| NT | ||||
| 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 | PCP receives results electronically from lab | ✓ | Letter and/or telephone communication sent to physicians if follow up has not occurred within guideline recommendations | |
| MB | ✓ | ✓ For all high-grade Pap test results; sent if necessary for low-grade Pap where follow-up has not occurred |
||
| ON | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 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* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NL | ✓ | ✓ |
PE: *Primary care providers receive results and reminders for follow up if follow up was not initiated after 3/6, 9, 12, 21 months from lab. Participants for cervical cancer screening of provincial pap clinics receive result letter.