Thursday, February 27, 2025
On January 1st, 2025, an important change in cervical cancer screening took effect in Belgium.
The recommended screening for cervical cancer will now be conducted using a primary HPV test, performed every five years starting at the age of 30. This replaces the current three-yearly cytological examination (Pap smear).
The revised screening interval and new testing method are backed by extensive scientific evidence, including national studies and recent analyses from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Sciensano coordinated the collaboration between all relevant partners to ensure better protection against cervical cancer in the future.
In addition to these changes, Sciensano has launched the ‘Cervical Cancer Screening’ platform, which gathers all relevant information for both the general public and healthcare professionals. On the webpage, you find the new guidelines, changes in nomenclature, a list of approved HPV tests, a link to the comprehensive document ‘Clinical Guidelines,’ and a FAQ section.
Visit the Cervical Cancer Screening platform
Sciensano remains available to answer questions and provide support.
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