Colorectal screening in Canada, 2023-24
About this section
This section describes how provinces and territories correspond with individuals after colorectal screening, and how individuals are notified of their results and invited for follow-up with a diagnostic colonoscopy. Appropriate referral pathways for participants who receive an abnormal screen result, reporting pathways for participants who receive a normal screen test, and set methods for notifying primary care providers and/or participants of the results of the screening test are all elements of organized screening programs (WHO, IARC).
Diagnostic follow-up
Follow-up for normal results
In many jurisdictions, normal colorectal screening test results are received by both the primary care provider and by the participant. Nine provinces and two territories send a recall reminder to participants, with some programs sending a testing kit alongside the recall reminder.
Receiving results for normal colorectal screening test results
| P/T | PCP receives FIT results | Participant receives FIT results |
|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ | |
| NT | ✓ (opportunistic) | ✓* |
| NU | ✓ | |
| BC | ✓ | Normal FIT results are available through online test result reporting if participants have signed up for those services. |
| AB | ✓ | ✓ |
| SK | ✓ | ✓ |
| MB | ✓ | ✓ |
| ON | ✓^ | ✓ |
| QC | ✓ (opportunistic) | ✓(program)~ |
| NB | ✓ | ✓ |
| NS | ✓ | ✓ |
| PE | ✓ | ✓ |
| NL | ✓ | ✓ |
*NT: Negative FIT results through the organized screening program receive a letter and phone call from the program directly.
^ON: Lab sends FIT results to the PCP and uploads the result into the Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS).
~QC: Once program is established.
Follow-up for normal colorectal screening test results
| P/T | Automatic recall (recall reminder, requisition, questionnaire) | No formal recall (participant or PCP must initiate screening) |
|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ (recall reminder) | |
| NT | ✓ (recall reminder with test kit)* | |
| NU | – | – |
| BC | ✓ (requisition) | |
| AB | ✓ | |
| SK | ✓ (recall reminder with test kit) | |
| MB | ✓ (recall with test kit) | |
| ON | ✓ (recall letter and then reminder letter sent in four months if no screening done) | |
| QC | ✓ (recall reminder)^ | ✓(opportunistic) |
| NB | ✓ (re-invitation & patient questionnaire) | |
| NS | ✓ (recall reminder with test kit) | |
| PE | ✓ (recall reminder with test kit) | |
| NL | ✓ (recall reminder with test kit) |
*NT: In regions where the organized screening program has been rolled out.
^QC: Once program is established.
-NU: No information was provided at the time data were collected.