Ontario is making a major change to cervical cancer screening, replacing Pap tests with the more accurate HPV test starting March 3.
The new test, already adopted in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, detects the human papillomavirus, which is linked to cervical cancer.
Ontario Health says the switch will allow for less frequent testing while improving early detection rates.
However, unlike B.C., Ontario’s rollout will not include self-screening kits, meaning patients will still need to visit a healthcare provider for testing.
The change aims to enhance accuracy while making the screening process more efficient for patients across the province.