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.

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
• Have only had protected sexual contact
• Are pregnant
• Have had a subtotal hysterectomy and kept their cervix

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.

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.

The person who collected your sample for the cervical screening test will get a copy of the test results from LifeLabs. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) will also mail you a letter with your test results.

For more information about cervical screening and the cervical screening test, visit: ontariohealth.ca/cervical-test

No, the above information is related to the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP), which is covered by OHIP. The Cervical Health (HPV) kit is not covered by OHIP. It is only available for uninsured patients i.e. patients without an OHIP card and for those wanting to retest at frequent intervals (not recommended by Ontario Health). The at-home collection kit tests for HPV only, unlike the cervical screening test that tests for the presence of HPV and also checks for abnormal changes in the cells.

For more information about Cervical Health (HPV) kits by LifeLabs, visit:
/hpv-testing/