Your Questions — 11 minutes
What are the differences between the HPV test and Pap test?
The test used to detect the human papillomavirus (HPV test) will gradually become the primary screening test for cervical cancer in Quebec. This test is more effective than the traditional Pap test and has other advantages, despite certain limitations. Here’s an overview of the differences between the two tests.
With a sensitivity of 94.6%, the HPV test detects 40% more at-risk cases than the Pap test, which has a sensitivity of 55.4%. However, the Pap test is more specific: 97% of patients with a positive Pap test have suspicious cells and must therefore undergo a colposcopy. [1-2]
The HPV test detects the presence of the virus even if there are no abnormalities or lesions. As a result, if genotypes other than HPV-16 or HPV-18 are detected, patients are advised to have a Pap test in order to avoid unnecessary colposcopies.
For decades, these tests have been the mainstay of Quebec’s cervical cancer screening program. The problem is that the Pap test is not as effective as the HPV test, which was made possible by the development of DNA analysis technologies in the 1980s.
Contrary to a Pap test, which requires a cervical swab in a clinic, an HPV can be done from a vaginal swab, making self-collection possible. Work is currently underway to make this type of sampling available.
Learn more about this Biron's screening tests (HPV test and PAP test)
An HPV test should be done every five years starting at age 25, while the interval for a Pap test is two to three years starting at age 21.
