NEWS

November 2025 – HPV Primary screening launched for ages 50 to 69
As of November 5, 2025, Alberta has transitioned to HPV primary screening as the standard for cervical cancer screening beginning with women and people with a cervix aged 50 to 69. This change strengthens early detection and introduces a more sensitive test for individuals nearing the end of the target age for cervical cancer screening.

Planning for provincial access to HPV primary screening for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 49 is ongoing. At this time, these patients will continue to be screened using Pap tests.

Additional information for providers can be found using the following links:

·       Overview and FAQs: HPV-Primary-PCP_Overview-and-FAQ.pdf

·       Clinical pathway: HPV-primary-screen-clin-path1

·       Follow-up: Primary-care-provider_results-follow.pdf

Cervix Self-Screening pilot project  

The pilot project is no longer accepting new patients or orders for self-screening test kits.

The HPV Self-Sampling (also known as the Cervix Self-Screening) Pilot Project is an Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program (ACCSP) initiative, funded by Alberta Health. This pilot project aims to increase cervical cancer screening participation in three under-screened populations in Alberta: Indigenous, immigrant/newcomer and rural/remote.  Throughout the course of this 3-year project, 5,000 samples will be collected across the province.

Cancer Screening Virtual Education Videos 

AHS Screening Programs have developed virtual education resources for patients. The videos aim to support patients preparing to have a colposcopy. The videos will eventually be available in several languages.

Opportunities for Collaborations

If you are interested in an opportunity to collaborate with the ACCSP on upcoming projects, please email accsp@ahs.ca 

The Colposcopy Quality Improvement Committee 

The Colposcopy Quality Improvement (QI) Committee was formed in 2002. Colposcopists and colposcopy clinics are key partners of the Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program (ACCSP).

Key responsibilities of the committee are to:

• Make recommendations for the ACCSP quality measures and quality practices for colposcopy service delivery pertaining to cervical cancer screening and follow-up.
• Ensure the appropriate collection of data to support quality assurance and quality improvement activities.
• Support the standardization of evidence-based best practices for colposcopy services across the province.
• Apply continuous improvement principles, methods and tools to:
  • Determine current levels of service quality
  • Understand cause of variations in levels of service quality
  • Identify process variables related to best practices
  • Design and implement strategies to improve service quality.

The Colposcopy Quality Improvement Committee met on May 26, 2025. Click on the link below to access the meeting minutes.

• •  May 26, 2025 – Meeting minutes

Standards and Guidelines 

Guidelines for Delivery of Colposcopy Services (2022)
These guidelines provide best practices for colposcopy patient care and safety mechanisms for AHS and private colposcopy clinics across the province. The guidelines were created in partnership with the Colposcopy QI Committee and the Colposcopy Operations Working Group to support colposcopy best practices throughout Alberta.

Colposcopy Quality Improvement (QI) Committee Guidelines for Delivery of Colposcopy Services

Provincial Annual Colposcopy Reports 

This report accounts for annual quality management activities in the province. This includes reporting on colposcopy indicators and quality measures and practices across the province.   2022 Annual Colposcopy Report

Referral to Colposcopy

• •  Clinics on FAST (Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment) should continue submitting referrals through their respective Zone FAST Team. Click here for the Provincial Adult Gynecology Referral Pathway.
  • Clinics that use the Alberta Referral Directory should continue to do so in accordance with their current practice.
  • Clinics that do not use the Alberta Referral Directory or the FAST (Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment) central access and intake program should use the Alberta Colposcopy Referral.

• Colposcopy Report Form

The Alberta Colposcopy Report Form (ACR) is an essential component for data collection, evaluation, and feedback for all colposcopy services in Alberta. Currently, the reACR form is available via ConnectCare and fillable electronic form submissions to the ACCSP.

• Blank Colposcopy Record Order Form

Colposcopy Clinic Location and Contact Information 

The inform Alberta’s search engine offers a comprehensive search database for service providers in the province. Searching for “colposcopy” will provide a list of health providers associated with colposcopy services.
InformAlberta.ca   

The colposcopy clinic list also provides information on colposcopy clinics in Alberta.
Colposcopy Referral Algorithm – List of colposcopy clinics

·    Clinical Practice Guidelines

·    HPV Primary Screening

·    HPV Self-Sampling (Cervix Self-Screening) Pilot Project

·    ACCSP Cervical Cancer Screening Learning Module for Registered Nurses (2022)

HPV Test of Cure

• •   HPV Test Of Cure Colposcopy Implementation Handbook

• •  ACCSP HPV Test of Cure Information For Primary Care Providers

• •  HPV Test Of Cure Algorithm- One Pager

·       Does my Patient need a referral to Colposcopy?

·       Colposcopy Connect Care Implementation Guidelines

·       Indigenous Cancer Screening Resources

·       2SLGBTQI+ Cancer Screening Resources

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) Colposcopy Guidelines

• • SOGC Guidelines – HPV+ and Specific Populations
  • SOGC Guidelines – Risk-Based Approach to Cervical Dysplasia

Canadian Partnership Against Cancer – Colposcopy services

• • Canadian Partnership Against Cancer- Colposcopy Services

• Cervical Screening Test
• Colposcopy Information Guide
• LOOP Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) – Outpatient
• LOOP Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) – Operation Room
• Your Guide to Cervical Laser Surgery

HPV Test Of Cure Patient Resource And HPV Vaccine

Colposcopy video series (alberta.ca) 
 
What to expect during a pap test.

Articles

Gender Diverse Colposcopy Patients

Dhillon, N. et al, 2020, Bridging Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Transgender Men

Kiran, T. et al, 2019, Cancer Screening Rates Among Transgender Adults

Potter, J. et al, 2015, Cervical Cancer Screening for Patients on the Female-to-Male Spectrum

Alternative colposcopy treatment sought by patients

Dellino, M. et al, 2022, Lactobacillus Crispatus M247 Oral Administration Effective in Management of Papillomavirus-infected Women

Desravines, N. et al, 2020, Topical Therapies for the Treatment of CIN 2-3

Huang, S. et al, 2023, Effect of heat-clearing and Dampness-eliminating Chinese Medicine for High-risk Cervical Cancer Papillomavirus Infection

Luo, M. et al, 2019, Detoxification Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Genital Tract High-risk HPV Infection

Serrano, L. et al, 2021, Efficacy of a Coriolus Versicolor-Based Vaginal Gel in Women with HPV Dependent Cervical Lesions

Smith, J. et al, 2022, AHCC Supplementation to Support Immune Function to Clear Persistent HPV infections

dVIN precursors, management and associated vulvar cancers

Grootenhuis, N. et al, 2019, Margin Status Revisited in Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Micheletti, L. et al, 2016, Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus and Neoplastic Transformation

Preti, M. et al, 2019, Clinical Role of Laser for Vulvar and Vaginal Treatments in Gynecology and Female Urology

Preti, M. et al, 2022, ESGO, ISSVD, ECSVD, ECSVD and EFC Consensus Statements on Pre-invasive Vulvar Lesions

Thompson, E. et al, 2022, Significance of p53 and Presence of dVIN at Resection Margin in Early Stage HPV-independent Vulvar Squamous Cell Carci

Vieira-Baptista, P. et al, 2022, Risk of Development of Vulvar Cancer in Women with Lichen Sclerosus or Lichen Planus

Other

Gilliland, K. et al, 2013, Cytology of Vulvar Vaginal Paget Disease

Litwin, C. et al, 2021, High-risk HPV Prevalence Among Women Undergoing Cervical Cancer Screening (1)

The Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program (ACCSP)

The Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program (ACCSP) is a provincial population-based cancer screening program within AHS Provincial Population and Public Health. Working collaboratively with primary care, laboratories, colposcopists, health zone leaders and other key stakeholders, the program supports eligible women and people with a cervix (ages 25 to 69) to participate in regular cervical cancer screening.

Established in 2000, the ACCSP has continued to increase its capacity to provide an evidenced-based comprehensive cancer screening program for Albertans.

The program’s core functions are to:

·       Identify individuals eligible to participate in cervical cancer screening;

·       Generate and send correspondence to eligible individuals, including invitations, results, follow-up and screening reminders;

·       Promote cervical cancer screening and provide education to support eligible individuals, providers, partners and community stakeholders;

·       Address inequities in cervical cancer screening;

·       Set program screening standards and guidelines;

·       Provide quality improvement and quality assurance across the screening pathway;

·       Maintain a comprehensive centralized registry and tracking system database application for monitoring cervical cancer screening participation in Alberta;

·       Develop, monitor and report performance indicators for cervical cancer screening.

Regular cervical cancer screening is effective in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. In fact, 90% of cervical cancer can be prevented with regular cervical cancer screening and abnormal result follow-up.

Contact Information

For more information about the ACCSP contact:

• Email inquiries to accsp@ahs.ca
• Phone inquiries to the Client Services Line 1-866-727-3926
• Please email the ACCSP for password access.