The Cervix Self-Screening Pilot Project is being led by the Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Alberta Health Services. The purpose of the project is to increase cervical cancer screening access and participation in three under-screened populations in Alberta: Indigenous, newcomer and rural/remote.

Cervix Self-Screening Pilot Project [brochure]

You may be eligible to self-screen as part of the pilot project if you identify as Indigenous, are a newcomer or live in a rural or remote part of Alberta.

For the pilot project a newcomer is someone who has lived in Canada less than 10 years. A rural or remote Albertan is someone who lives outside of the following communities: Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat.

You must also:

• Be 25 to 69 years of age
• Have a cervix
• Have had sexual contact with another person of any gender
• Have a valid Alberta Health Care number

Do not complete cervix self-screening if:

• You’ve had a Pap test in the last 3 years or have completed cervix self-screening in the last 11 months
• You’re currently pregnant
• You’ve had invasive cervical cancer
• Your last Pap test was abnormal
• You’re currently in colposcopy care or have been discharged in the last 11 months
• You have bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause

Cervix self-screening tests for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that spreads through sexual contact. This includes intimate touching, oral, vaginal and anal sex.

Most people will have an HPV infection at some point in their life and never know it. There are usually no symptoms. The majority of HPV infections don’t cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years.

But sometimes, certain HPV types don’t clear on their own and can cause cells on your cervix to become abnormal. These abnormal cells may become cancer cells over time.

Cervix self-screening uses a small, Q-tip like swab to collect a sample from your vagina. You don’t need to see a healthcare provider; you can do it yourself in the privacy of your home. Your sample is mailed to the lab using the pre-paid envelope included with the Cervix Self-Screening Test Kit.

It’s easy, painless and very accurate. It’s free of charge.

As with any other test, there are both benefits and risks; you might think of these as pros and cons. It’s important to be aware of them before having any test so that you can make an informed decision. While no screening test is 100% accurate, scientific evidence shows that getting screened regularly lowers the risk of dying from cervical cancer.

Benefits of cervix self-screening

• It can help identify those who are more likely to develop abnormal cell changes caused by high-risk HPV.
• When abnormal cell changes are found early, the cells can be treated so that cervical cancer doesn’t develop.
• It’s simple, painless and very accurate.
• It can be done anywhere you feel safe and comfortable.
• It doesn’t need a sample/cells from your cervix.

Risks of cervix self-screening

Cervix self-screening is very safe, however, there are some risks.

• Abnormal results may lead to stress and the need for more tests (Pap and/or colposcopy).
• There’s a chance the test could miss HPV, even if you have pre-cancerous cells or cervical cancer (false negative).
• There’s a chance the test could say HPV is present even when it is not (false positive).

It’s important to mail your sample on the same day as you collect it.

Read and follow the Cervix Self-Screening Instructions to collect your sample.

Cervix self-screening is easy and painless. Use the small, Q-tip like swab from the kit to collect a sample from your vagina.

Don’t collect a sample while you are on your period. Wait at least 2 days after your period has ended to collect the sample.

Plan to collect your sample on a day that you can drop it off at a Canada Post office or mailbox.

Use the pre-paid envelope included with your Cervix Self-Screening Test Kit to mail your kit.

Cervix Self-Screening Instructions [brochure]

• Getting your results
• Normal results
• Abnormal results
• Indeterminate results

Getting your results

You can see your results on MyHealth Records or MyAHS Connect. Visit: myhealthrecords (alberta.ca). You will also get a letter in the mail with your results 4 to 6 weeks after the lab receives your sample.

If you list your family doctor or healthcare provider on the test requisition form or when you order your kit, that provider will also receive your results.

Normal results

Normal results means that no high-risk HPV was found in your sample.

A letter will be mailed to you with information about your results and when you should screen again.

Abnormal results

Abnormal results means that high-risk HPV was found in your sample. You’ll need a follow-up Pap test or colposcopy.

Follow-up tests help find abnormal cell changes caused by high-risk HPV. When abnormal cell changes are found early, the cells can be treated so that cervical cancer doesn’t develop. That’s why it’s important to go for follow-up testing.

A nurse will call you to discuss your results and follow-up. You will also get a letter in the mail.

Learning that high-risk HPV was found may cause many feelings and raise a number of questions. It’s important to know that having HPV does not mean that you have or will develop cervical cancer.

To learn more about Pap tests, visit Get Screened – Screening For Life | Screening For Life

To learn more about colposcopy, visit Colposcopy (alberta.ca)

Indeterminate Results

Indeterminate results means that the lab couldn’t tell whether high-risk HPV was present or absent in your sample. This can happen for many reasons.

A letter will be mailed to you with more information on how to screen again.

Cervix Self-Screening Results [brochure]

Free interpreter services are available by calling Alberta Health Services Screening Programs at

1-866-727-3926, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Translated Cervix Self-Screening Pilot Project patient resources are available:

Cervix Self-Screening Brochure

ععربي (Arabic) | Español (Spanish) | Українська (Ukrainian) | ትግርኛ (Tigrinya) | 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) | ددری (Dari).

Cervix Self-Screening Instructions

ععربي (Arabic) | Español (Spanish) | Українська (Ukrainian) | ትግርኛ (Tigrinya) | 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) | ددری (Dari).

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