EVERYTHING ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN ALBERTA HAS CHANGED.

Changes to when and how often Alberta women need to go for Pap tests were released in October 2009 by a group of independent doctors, nurses, and healthcare experts led by Toward Optimized Practice (TOP). The age at which Alberta women start getting Pap tests, as well as how often they need to get screened has changed. Here are the main changes to Pap test screening in Alberta:

  • Women can start having routine Pap tests at a later age. Pap testing before age 21 is no longer recommended.
  • Most women need Pap tests just once every 3 years instead of every year.

Women should still have Pap tests regularly at least until age 70.

Pap test guidelines were changed to help make sure that women in Alberta benefit from cervical screening and avoid unnecessary tests. Since the previous guidelines were written, new and improved lab technologies for reading Pap tests have been developed. A new understanding has emerged about how cervical cancer develops.

For Healthcare Providers 

For Women 

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BROCHURES

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RESOURCES

 Do I Really Need a Pap Test?

 Making Sense of Abnormal Pap Test Results

 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) What You Need to Know And Do

 Pap Test Technique Chart

Physicians Report of Ineligibility for Cervical Cancer Screening

 RN Pap Test Learning Module, Revised 2010

OTHER PUBLIC RESOURCES

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

  Should I have a Pap Test - Public Poster

 Guideline for Screening for Cervical Cancer, Revised in 2009

 Cervical Cancer Screening CPG Summary Chart

 Cervical Cancer Screening CPG Wheel

 Everything About Pap Testing in Alberta Just Changed - Information Sheet

 Everything About Pap Testing in Alberta Just Changed - Public Poster

©2010 Alberta Health Services, Cancer Screening Programs. Updated 07/2010. Submit comments to Screening For Life Webmaster

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