October 30, 2024- BD announced Health Canada approval of the BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for the use with self-collected vaginal specimens at home. Self-collected samples provide an alternative to the traditional Pap test performed by a clinician with a speculum, making cervical cancer screening more accessible.
Compared to the traditional Pap test, HPV self-collection is less invasive, more cost-effective, and requires less frequent testing, now recommended every five years. The accuracy of self-collection for HPV is at the same standard as clinician-collected samples, making cervical cancer prevention more accessible, especially to remote, rural, and vulnerable populations. This is critical, considering cervical cancer incidence is three-fold higher in underserved populations in remote communities who have limited access to screening when compared to the general population.