​New cervix self-screening kits are now available. If you are eligible and due for cervix screening, you can order a kit by calling 1-877-702-6566 or visiting screeningbc.ca/cervix​. You can also complete self-screening at your community health centre.

What to expect: cervix self-screening test

The cervix self-screening test is quick, easy and convenient. It involves taking a small sample from the vagina with a Q-tip-like swab. Each kit will include easy-to-follow instructions with diagrams. You can complete the test wherever you feel most comfortable, including at home, at a healthcare clinic, or with the support of a health care provider.

Once the test is completed you can drop the kit off at your nearest post office or post box. Please try to do the test during daytime working hours, and to drop off the kit on the same day you complete your test. Test results will be available within four to six weeks from the time the kit is mailed in.

What this means for First Nations people in BC

In partnership with BC Cancer, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has been participating in a cervix self-screening pilot program since 2021.

Dr. Unjali Malhotra, Medical Director, Women's Health, FNHA, led the pilot program in one First Nations community in BC. She saw firsthand the benefits of the new self-screening test.

“The response to these tests has been extremely positive," says Dr. Malhotra. “People who've previously avoided Pap tests – often due to past trauma or having to travel long distances from remote areas – have successfully completed cervix self-screening."

First Nations people in BC experience higher rates of cervical cancer than non-First Nations people. This is a result of the unique barriers they face when it comes to accessing healthcare services, including cancer screening.

“These new and improved self-tests have the opportunity to be a real game changer when it comes to screening for cervical cancer for First Nations in BC," says Dr. Malhotra.

The province of BC has set an ambitious – but achievable – goal of eliminating cervical cancer in BC altogether.

Dr. Lily Proctor, Medical Director, Cervix Screening Program, BC Cancer, notes the new self-tests are a big step towards that goal.

“We hope that people who may have avoided Pap tests in the past will embrace the opportunity to self-screen when and where they feel comfortable so that abnormalities are detected before they become cancer," says Dr. Proctor. “We're grateful for our partnership with the FNHA and look forward to continuing to collaborate in our goal to eliminate cervical cancer."

Cervix self-screening eligibility

You should get screened if you:

• have a cervix (women, two-spirit, transgender and gender-diverse people);
• are 25 to 69 years of age;
• have not received a Pap test in three years or more; and/or
• have not completed HPV testing in five years or more.

More information and helpful resources

For more information about cervix self-screening, please visit

BC Cancer's website: for additional information about cervix self-screening.

Cervix Self Screening in Partnership with Carrier Sekani Family Services: a patient education video.

Cancer Screening Flipbook: An educational cancer screening resource developed in partnership with BC Cancer, for the recent cancer screening campaign.

Average Risk Screening Chart: overview on when individuals should get screened for cancer.

For more information on cancer prevention, screening and treatment, visit fnha.ca/cancer.