Upcoming pop-up pap test clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital will feature the latest in cervical screening

St. Joseph’s Hospital will hold it’s next pop-up pap test clinic Monday March 24, 2025

St. Joseph’s Hospital will hold it’s next pop-up pap test clinic on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Due to the success of the first few clinics, the hospital has begun having the pop-up clinics more frequently. This time around, the screening analysis will look for specific evidence of the viruses that cause cancer of the cervix.

This comes after the province rolled out new screening program for cervical changes, which now involve HPV tests - something that doctors believe will lead to better tests, less often.

“The HPV test is much more sensitive and specific than our old, system of, taking cells from the cervix and looking at the cells themselves. So from the standpoint of, being able to assess risk, this is a much better test,” explained Dr. Robert Di Cecco, Medical Director of St. Joseph’s Colposcopy Clinic and Regional Lead for Cervical Screening for the South West Regional Cancer Program.

Dr. Di Cecco says the collection will remain the same, however, the test analysis will be a much better assessment of risk.

The pop-up pap test clinic at St. Joseph’s is open anyone with a cervix age 25 and older who has not had a pap test in the past three years. No referral or appointment necessary.

It will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. March 24, in the Colposcopy Clinic at St. Jospeh’s Hospital in London. More information is available on St. Joseph’s website.