Rio Branco implements new DNA-HPV testing for cervical cancer screening

The Rio Branco Municipal Health Secretariat has begun implementing a new molecular testing program for cervical cancer screening. The initiative uses DNA-HPV oncogenic testing to detect high-risk human papillomavirus before lesions develop.

The program is currently in its pilot phase at the Augusto Hidalgo de Lima Primary Care Reference Unit (URAP). Following this stage, the service will expand to the Manoel Alves Bezerra Family Health Unit and eventually to other units across the municipal health network. This technology aligns with new national screening guidelines, allowing for a five-year testing interval for patients with negative results.

According to estimates from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio Branco is expected to record 60 new cases of cervical cancer in 2026, while the state of Acre is projected to see 90 cases.