Brazil expands HPV testing through SUS to detect high-risk virus

The Unified Health System (SUS) has detected high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in 9,904 out of 93,000 DNA-HPV samples processed in 2026. This represents just over 10% of the total samples analyzed.

Unlike the traditional Pap smear, which examines cervical cells for existing changes, the DNA-HPV test identifies the genetic material of the virus, including types 16 and 18, which are most strongly linked to cancer. This allows for medical intervention before the infection evolves into cancer. Since 2025, 153,000 samples have been collected.

The testing program is currently available in 26 of Brazil's 27 federative units, with implementation occurring gradually at the municipal level. Espírito Santo is the only state that has not yet begun screening, a delay the ministry attributes to local organizational requirements.