As a result of the Canada Post service disruption, BC Cancer is sharing options for those who have cervix self-screening kits at home, including:
- Waiting until postal services resume to complete their sample and put it in the mail.
- Dropping off their completed kit at lab locations throughout the province.
BC was the first to offer province-wide cervix self-screening in Canada. Starting January 2024, anyone with a cervix, including women and TTGD (Two-Spirit, transgender and gender diverse) people, between the ages of 25 and 69, can request a kit and self-screen wherever they feel most comfortable. These kits screens for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer.
During the service disruption, we ask that you do not complete self-screening samples and attempt to mail them through Canada Post as they will likely be delayed and may not be received by the lab in time to be processed. If a sample arrives at the lab more than 30 days after the sample is collected it will not be processed and the screening program will mail a new self-screening kit to complete after postal services resume.
Completed kits can still be dropped-off in person at LifeLabs, Valley Medical Laboratories and health authority labs throughout the province. A complete list of locations is available on the
BC Cancer Screening website.
With the disruption to Canada Post services, self-screening kits can still be requested on the
BC Cancer cervix screening web page or by calling 1-877-702-6566 but will not be mailed until postal services resume. Those due for screening can speak with their provider and may be able to access either a provider-collected Pap test or be given a self-screening kit to complete in the office. In-office samples are returned by courier to the laboratory.
Cancer screening programs, including cervix screening, are an important component of preventative health care and are intended for people with no symptoms. Please speak with a health care provider if you are experiencing
symptoms that include: abnormal vaginal bleeding (such as bleeding in between periods, bleeding during/after sex, or after menopause), abnormal or persistent vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, or pain during sexual intercourse.
Cervix self-screening and the transition to the HPV testing as the primary screening test for cervical cancer is part of
BC's 10-year Cancer Action Plan to better prevent, detect and treat cancers and cervix self-screening actions our commitment to increase equity in health care.
While the disruption to Canada Post services means that reminder and results letters for cervix screening along with breast, colon and lung screening won't be mailed directly to program participants as usual, they are available electronically on
Health Gateway, the provincial patient portal that provides British Columbians with secure access to their consolidated health information.
Screening results will continue to be sent directly (electronically or by fax) to health care providers and follow-up clinics. Anyone who required follow up for their screening result will be contacted by their provider or follow-up clinic.
Hard copy of results, reminders and cervix self-screening kits will be sent out once postal services resume.
BC Cancer, a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. For more information, visit www.bccancer.bc.ca or follow us on Twitter @BCCancer.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) provides specialized health care services and programs to communities across British Columbia, the territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured this land for all time, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlil̓w̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations on whose unceded and ancestral territory our head office is located. We work in partnership with other B.C. health authorities and the provincial government to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca or follow us @PHSAofBC.
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Media contact:
Christopher Foulds
Communications Officer
Provincial Health Services Authority
PHSA Media line: 778.867.7472
