HPV screening expansion in Latin America

Efforts to combat cervical cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean are shifting toward advanced molecular testing for Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

In Costa Rica, the national screening paradigm is transitioning from traditional Papanicolaou (Pap) smears to HPV testing. This change follows the ESTAMPA study, which found that HPV testing identified 98 out of 100 cases of severe precancerous lesions or cancer, compared to only 48 out of 100 cases detected by traditional cytology. The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) is resuming molecular screening for women aged 30 to 64 to detect high-risk HPV types. Health officials noted these tests offer higher sensitivity than conventional Pap smears, potentially allowing for screening intervals of every five years for those who test negative. Additionally, the CCSS is expanding cancer screening through mobile mammography units in areas such as Guatuso.

On a broader regional scale, Roche Diagnóstica and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have partnered to accelerate access to integrated HPV DNA screening solutions. This initiative supports the PAHO Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer 2018–2030 and the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating the disease. The region currently faces the second-highest incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer globally, with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 15.1 cases per 100,000 women, exceeding the WHO elimination threshold. The partnership emphasizes molecular testing and self-sampling methods to overcome logistical and cultural barriers. In the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Public Health has begun distributing 15,000 HPV diagnostic tests to high-prevalence areas as part of this effort.