Table 3.

Current cervical cancer screening guidelines in Canada and United States.

Canada: province	Organized program	Primary screening test	Initiation (age)	Interval after negative test (years)	Cessation (age)
Canadian Task Force (2013)		Cytology	25	3	69
Alberta	Yes	Cytology	21	3 (after 3 normal)	69
British Columbia	Partially	Cytology	21	2 (after 3 normal)	69
Manitoba	Partially	Cytology	Within 3 years of sexual activity	2	69
Ontario	Partially	Cytology	21	3	70
		HPV test	30	5	65
Newfoundland2	Partially	Cytology	20	3 (after 3 normal)	70
New Brunswick3	No	Cytology	21	2–3 (after 3 normal)	69
Northwest Territories	No	Cytology	21	2 (after 3 normal)	69
Nova Scotia	Partially	Cytology	21	2 (after 3 normal)	75
Nunavut	No	Cytology	16	2 (after 3 normal)	70
Prince Edward Island	No	Cytology	20	2	69
Quebec4	No	Cytology	21	2 to 3	65
Saskatchewan	Yes	Cytology	21	3 (after 3 normal)	69
Yukon	No	Cytology	18	2 (after 3 normal)	–
United States: organization providing guidelines*	Primary screening test		Initiation (age)	Interval after negative test (years)	Cessation (age)
American Cancer Society	Cytology		21	3	65
	HPV co-test† (preferred method)		30	5
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force	Cytology		21	3	65
	HPV co-test (for women who want to extend screening interval)		30	5
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists	Cytology		21	3	65
	HPV co-test		30	5

Canadian guidelines provided by Lori Elliott, senior policy analyst, Cancer Care Ontario.

US information from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/guidelines.pdf.

^*Note, the US does not have an organized screening program. Programs for specific populations (e.g. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, Indian Health Service, Family Planning (Title X) etc.) do exist, but guidelines are generally based on those of the above organizations.

^†HPV co-test consists of cytology+HPV test administered together.