Quebec shifts from pap tests to HPV screening to detect cervical cancer earlier

Quebec plans to finish a provincewide rollout of a more sensitive HPV screening test by mid-2026, replacing Pap tests and offering screening every five years to people aged 25–65; Montreal is still completing a soft rollout.

Quebec is moving away from traditional Pap tests toward a more sensitive HPV screening test. The provincial rollout began region by region in 2022 and officials say they plan to complete it by mid-2026. The new test detects high-risk types of HPV and can identify risk before cells become abnormal, officials reported. Some regions, including Montreal, are still in a soft rollout phase. Key facts: - The health ministry announced the shift in 2022 and INESSS recommended HPV testing in 2017. - The HPV test is planned for people aged 25 to 65 and is to be offered every five years, according to the ministry. - Early detection through screening is associated with about a 90 per cent five-year survival rate, the article stated. - Doctors noted self-swabbing tests are supported by U.S. health officials and are hoped for in Canada, but such options remain limited. Summary: The policy change is presented as a step to detect cervical disease earlier and to address persistent access gaps noted in some northern and Indigenous communities. The next stated procedural step is completing the provincewide rollout of HPV screening by mid-2026.