Canada Post Service Disruption and Cancer Screening
The Canada Post service disruption may affect the delivery of cancer screening letters and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits for colorectal screening. Here is what you need to know about cancer screening services during the disruption.
About the Canada Post Disruption
Unfortunately, we do not know how long the service disruption might last. You can get the latest updates on the Canada Post service disruption from:
Cancer Screening Letter Delivery
Screening results letters
Your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner) is responsible for telling you about your screening test results (HPV test, FIT or mammogram). Contact your primary care provider to discuss the details of your screening test result.
Ontario Health also sends personalized result letters to individuals. However, you may notice delays in receiving your screening letters.
- If you do not have a primary care provider and got a FIT kit from Health811, or the Hamilton or North West mobile screening coach, Ontario Health will courier your result to you if it is abnormal. All other mail correspondence may be delayed due to the service disruption.
- If you have an abnormal breast screening result, you will be contacted by your OBSP site to arrange additional tests. You may notice delays in receiving a normal result letter.
Primary care provider notification of results
Your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife) will continue to receive your screening results. Ontario community laboratories and OBSP sites are responsible for notifying primary care providers of their patients’ results and will continue to do so throughout the Canada Post service disruption.
Recall letters when it is time to screen
You may notice delays in receiving a recall letter. If you have questions about when you are due for screening, please contact your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife).
ColonCancerCheck Fit Kit Delivery
FIT Kit Mailing and Return
FIT kits will not be delivered until the service disruption ends.
Do not return your kit by mail. Please drop off your completed FIT kit at a community laboratory collection centre.
To find specimen collection centres:
- Visit LifeLabs’ location finder
- Call Ontario Health toll free at 1-866-662-9233, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Email Ontario Health to ask about the closest drop-off location
No access to a specimen collection centre
If you cannot access a specimen collection centre, please wait until the service disruption ends to do the test. Please check the expiration date above the barcode on the FIT tube prior to completing your kit. If the FIT kit expires in less than 6 months, do not complete the test and ask your health care provider for another FIT kit.
Laboratory processing times for fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits during the Canada Post service disruption
Completed FITs will continue to be tested when received by the laboratory. However, a stool (poop) sample breaks down over time.
- If your sample is tested between 15 and 30 days after it was collected, the lab may be unable to determine a result and you must redo the test.
- If your sample arrives at the lab more than 30 days after it was collected, the sample will not be tested and you must redo the test.
You have not received your fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result
Please contact your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) for your result during the service disruption. If you do not have a primary care provider and got a ColonCancerCheck FIT kit from Health811, or the Hamilton or North West mobile screening coach, Ontario Health will courier your result to you if it is abnormal.
If your result is normal or you need to redo your test, your results will be mailed, but may be delayed, and delivered once postal services resume.
You need to redo your fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
Please book an appointment with your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to get a requisition for a new FIT kit.
If you do not have a primary care provider, you may be able to get a FIT kit by calling Health811 at 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007). The laboratory will mail your FIT kit once the service disruption ends.
If you live in Hamilton or the North West, FIT kits are also available through your region's mobile screening coach.