People are eligible for cervical screening if they:

• Have a cervix*, and
• Are at least 25 years old, and
• Have ever been sexually active, and
• Do not have symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer (such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, bleeding after sexual activity and pelvic pain).

Most eligible people should get screened with the HPV test every 5 years.

Some eligible people may need to get screened more often based on their immune status, screening results history or colposcopy results.

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 results history.

*Including women, Two-Spirit people, transmasculine people, nonbinary people, pregnant people, post-menopausal people, people who have undergone a subtotal hysterectomy and retained their cervix, and people who have had the HPV vaccine.

Healthcare providers can order HPV testing for eligible people by completing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cytology Tests Requisition – For Cervical Screening or the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cytology Tests Requisition – Colposcopy for follow-up of Cervical Screening-Related Abnormalities.

• The appropriate Ontario Cervical Screening Program requisition must be used for ordering a screening or colposcopy related test.
• HPV testing cannot be ordered using the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Laboratory Requisition or a hospital laboratory requisition.

Requisitions are available on the HPV testing implementation resource hub at ontariohealth.ca/hpvhub and were part of an information package sent by Ontario Health to providers who offer screening.

Healthcare providers are responsible for validating patient information before signing the requisition.

Completed HPV requisitions and cervical samples will be collected by LifeLabs courier or must be shipped directly to LifeLabs for testing.

If you have not ordered lab tests through LifeLabs previously, or are unsure if you are in the LifeLabs database, please call and give us the following information before you start sending requisitions and samples:

• Physician billing number (must be an Ontario billing number only)
• Indicate whether you are a doctor or nurse practitioner
• Last name
• First name
• Full address including – Suite number/Address number/Street/City/Province(ON)/Postal code
• Phone number
• Fax number

You may share this information with us in the following ways:

By calling our LifeLabs Customer Care Centre and specifying that you’re registering for HPV testing (Ph: 1-877-849-3637)

To receive results electronically via your EMR system, please have your EMR vendor contact the LifeLabs IT Service Desk (Ph: 1-800-465-6001)

To get setup with Launchpad, LifeLabs’ 24/7 free physician portal, please register here.

Laboratory reports to providers include standard messaging for human papillomavirus (HPV) test results and recommended next steps.

If the result is HPV positive, it means the test detected a high-risk HPV type.

• HPV-positive (types 16, 18/45): Should be referred to colposcopy, even if the reflex cytology test (also known as a Pap test) result is normal.
  
• HPV-positive (other high-risk types): Reflex cytology testing will be performed on the samples automatically by the laboratories. The results of cytology will determine the most appropriate follow up recommendation.
  

If the result is HPV negative it means the test did not detect a high-risk HPV type and most patients should be screened again in five years.

Invalid results: In a small number of cases, a result may be invalid (meaning that the test did not provide a clear negative or positive result or there were not enough cells present in the sample, or the sample was contaminated) and may require a new sample or further follow-up.

For more information on screening with the HPV test, visit ontariohealth.ca/OCSP-recommendations.

Our medical experts and account managers are available to support you in selecting the appropriate tests and services for your practice. LifeLabs offers pathology services, general and advanced diagnostics, genetics testing and mobile laboratory services.

Consultations with our experts are available upon request. Request a medical consultation.