HPV Testing
The Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) will be implementing human papillomavirus (HPV) testing with reflex cytology in cervical screening and as a co-test in colposcopy for screening related abnormalities.
HPV testing will replace the Pap test on March 3rd, 2025 in Ontario. Below is a variety of information for Healthcare Providers to gain essential knowledge to support this change.
Visit our provider specific pages for more information:
General Information
Launch and benefits of new cervical screening test
- Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) has launched a new cervical screening test that uses human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to better prevent cervical cancer.
- The new cervical screening test is a more accurate test than the Pap test. This means most people can go longer between screenings.
What is the cervical screening test?
- The cervical screening test checks for types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer. It also checks for cell changes in the cervix caused by these types of HPV.
- The test does not check for types of HPV that do not cause cervical cancer.
- The cervical screening test feels like getting a Pap test. A doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife will use a small, soft brush to take cells from the cervix so the lab can test for cancer-causing types of HPV and cell changes.
Who should get screened with the cervical screening test?
- People are eligible for cervical screening if they:
- Are a woman, Two-Spirit person, transmasculine person or nonbinary person with a cervix, and
- Are at least 25 years old, and
- Have ever had sexual contact with another person, and
- Do not have symptoms, like different bleeding or discharge (clear or yellow fluid) from the vagina (genital opening)
- People should still get screened if they:
- Have had the HPV vaccine
- Feel healthy
- Have been through menopause
- Have not had any family members with cervical cancer
- Have had sexual contact with only one person
- Have had the same sexual partner for a long time
- Have not had sexual contact in a long time
- Are in a same-sex relationship
- Most eligible people should get screened every 5 years. Some eligible people may need to get screened more often based on their medical or screening history.
- Most people can stop cervical screening from ages 65 to 69. Some people may get cervical screening tests after age 69 based on their medical history or screening test result history.
How can I get screened with the cervical screening test?
You can get a cervical screening test by making an appointment with your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife. If you do not have a doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife, you can use Health811 to find a clinic that does cervical screening tests:
- Search for “cervical screening test” at ontario.ca/healthservices
- Call 811 (TTY: 1.866.797.0007)
- Use the live chat at ontario.ca/health811
Some public health units and community health centres also provide cervical screening tests. If you are in the North West and Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant regions, you may be eligible for cervical screening in one of the province’s mobile screening coaches.
Cervical screening test results
The person who did your cervical screening test will get a copy of the test results from the lab. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) will also mail you a letter with your test results.
Where can I find more information?
For more information about cervical screening and the cervical screening tests visit: ontariohealth.ca/cervical-test
Resources
HPV Resource Hub
Ontario Health has created a hub of resources that Healthcare Providers can easily access and reference. You can find the HPV Resource Hub (opens in new tab) on Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario’s (OH-CCO) website.
Key Tools and Resources for Healthcare Providers:
* Bookmark these links and keep checking in at the hub as new materials will be uploaded by OH-CCO.
Patient Information & Resources
Visit our Cervical Cancer Screening information pages for detailed patient information.