HPV home test in Canada

In Canada, healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of cervical cancer screening through a new home-based test for the human papillomavirus (HPV). The test kit, known as "Switch Health," is currently available to the general public nationwide, excluding northern regions and Prince Edward Island. The cost of this test kit is $99 and it can detect high-risk HPV genotypes, including HPV 16 and 18, which play a role in 70% of cervical cancer cases.
The kit includes an instruction booklet, sample label, Rovers Evalyn brush, alcohol pad, infectious medical waste bag, and a Purolator return shipping bag. Individuals can collect a vaginal wall sample using the brush provided and send it to accredited laboratories for analysis. Dr. Nancy Durand, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto, emphasizes that the results of this test are no different from those obtained through speculum-based examinations performed at a healthcare provider's office, which can be discomforting for many. In this test, a brush is used for vaginal sample collection, similar to inserting a cotton swab into the vagina. The test is straightforward to perform, which is why it has gained high acceptance among women.
Experts also stress that this test should not be conducted during menstruation or pregnancy. Additionally, test results are made available to individuals within three to five days and can be downloaded and printed securely through an online portal. The launch of this test kit was announced on a Wednesday, while several provinces are gradually phasing out Pap smear tests in favor of HPV testing for cervical cancer screening.
HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in Canada, with an estimated over 70% of adults becoming infected with it at some point in their lives.

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