Advances in cervical cancer screening technology make it possible to self-collect sample for HPV testing at home, which could help in early detection of cervical cancer.
Seventy per cent of sexually active Canadians will be infected with Human papillomavirus (HPV) during their lifetime.1
While most people clear the virus, about 10 to 20 per cent will have persistent HPV.2 Persistent HPV infection of the cervix, if left untreated, causes 95 per cent of cervical cancers.3
But most people don’t even know they have HPV, which is why cervical screening is so important.
While a Pap test looks for abnormal changes in cervical cells, the HPV test looks for the virus, which could later cause cell changes in the cervix.
Game-changer in HPV testing accessibility
LifeLabs, Canada’s leading medical laboratory, is launching the LifeLabs HPV At-Home Collection Kit, which allows individuals to collect their sample from the comfort and privacy of their home. This increases access to testing for people who are unable to take off work for a medical appointment, who do not have a primary healthcare provider, or who have cultural beliefs around modesty, language barriers, or discomfort with Pap tests.
Making the process easier and improving earlier detection can lead to better outcomes. “HPV testing and HPV immunization have been valuable innovations in the prevention, early detection, and management of the precursors of cervical cancers,” says Dr. Nathan Roth of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. “The results of HPV testing help determine what steps should be taken and what treatments to give to prevent cervical cancer from occurring.”
Learn more and sign up for early access at LifeLabs.com/hpv-testing.
SOURCES
1 Canadian Cancer Society, Human papillomavirus. Accessed Jan. 22, 2024. (Page 1, A, Page 2 B)
2 Shanmugasundaram, Srinidhi and You, Jianxin. Targeting Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infection, Viruses. August 2017 (Page 1 C)
3 World Health Organization, Cervical cancer. Accessed Jan. 22, 2024 (Page 2 E)
