CBC News: "Ontario shifts to HPV test for cervical cancer screening, but no at-home kits yet"
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Amanda Selk appeared on CBC News in February 2025.
By
Matthew Tierney
CBC News talked to Amanda Selk, an associate professor in the ob-gyn department, in February 2025 about Ontario’s shift to an HPV test for cervical cancer screening, starting March 3.
More and more, HPV tests are considered the standard of care for cervical screening programs in jurisdictions around the world. In Canada, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island have rolled out the shift to HPV testing.
The HPV test is more accurate, which can mean less frequent testing and a later start for routine monitoring.
The previous test — known as Pap tests or Pap smears, or cervical cytology — would remove cell samples from the cervix to look for those that were pre-cancer, explained Selk.
"Sometimes they would have slightly abnormal changes that weren't pre-cancer and you would end up with more testing and actually nothing was wrong," she said.
The new method tests for the virus that causes pre-cancer and cancer, catching it earlier, reducing false positives, and identifying populations more at risk.
It's a really good test and when we use it well, cervical cancer is very low. It's very preventable."
Cervical cancer is the fastest-increasing cancer among females, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Incidence have increased by an average of 3.7 per cent per year from 2015 to 2019.
"We're suddenly losing some ground. I think this test will help improve that, but only if patients get screened," Selk said.
"It still won't be the most comfortable test, but it's a really good test and when we use it well, cervical cancer is very low. It's very preventable."
