New Self-Collection HPV Screening Options
Written by: Alexa Stallings, Academic Research Assistant in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health
Screening for cervical cancer is now easier than ever. Traditionally, cervical cancer screening options have included a Pap smear or a clinician-collected Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test. However, two new self-collection HPV tests have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The first self-collection test allows you to collect the sample in a private room at a doctor’s office. The second test can be completed in your home. These new tests are becoming more available, offering a convenient way to stay on top of your health. Self-collection HPV tests are private, easy to use, accurate, and may be more comfortable than traditional screening methods.
Below is an overview comparing the different types of cervical cancer screening tests:
| Pap Smear | Clinician-collected HPV test | Self-collected HPV test (in clinic) | Self-collected HPV test (at-home) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When was the test introduced/approved? | Introduced in 1941 | Approved by the FDA for primary screening in 2014 | Approved by the FDA in May 2024 | Approved by the FDA in May 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Where is the sample collected from? | Cervix | Cervix | Vaginal Wall | Vaginal Wall | |||||||||||||
| What is the sample tested for? | Abnormal or precancerous cervical cells | High-risk HPV strains linked to cervical cancer | High-risk HPV strains linked to cervical cancer | High-risk HPV strains linked to cervical cancer | |||||||||||||
| Where is the test administered and by who? | In a clinic by a health care provider during a pelvic exam | In a clinic by a health care provider during a pelvic exam | In any health care setting by the patient in a private room | At home by the patient | |||||||||||||
| Screening Guidelines | Ages 21-29: Pap smear every 3 years Ages 30-65: Pap smear alone every 3 years or co-testing with a clinician-collected HPV test every 5 years USPSTF Guidelines | Ages 30-65: clinician-collected HPV test alone every 5 years or co-testing with a Pap smear every 5 years USPSTF Guidelines | Ages 30-65: self-collected HPV test every 3 years Reference: "Self-Collected Vaginal Specimens for HPV Testing: Recommendations From the Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee" | Ages 30-65: self-collected HPV test every 3 years Reference: "Self-Collected Vaginal Specimens for HPV Testing: Recommendations From the Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee" | |||||||||||||
| Where is the test available? | Widely available | Widely available | Ask your doctor if it is available at their clinic | Available in Iowa soon |
What is the self-collection HPV test?
The first self-collection HPV test option was approved by the FDA in May 2024. This option allows you to collect your own sample in a private room in any healthcare setting. Examples of places where you may be able to take the test include your doctor’s office, urgent care, hospitals, pharmacies, and mobile clinics.
In May 2025, the FDA approved the first at-home self-collection HPV test, developed by Teal Health. This option allows you to collect the sample from the comfort of your home. After completing the test, you use the return label to mail the sample to a lab to be analyzed.
Self-collection HPV tests are just as accurate at detecting high-risk HPV infections as tests completed by a doctor. If your self-collection HPV test is positive, contact your doctor, as you will need to be seen for more testing or treatment. The same step is required with traditional screening tests.
Image below: In-clinic self-collection HPV test kit. Image source: LabMedica
Image below: At-home self-collection HPV test kit. Image source: Teal Health
Why should I use the self-collection HPV test?
HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer, with 99.7% of cases having high-risk HPV types. The best ways to prevent cervical cancer are HPV vaccination and regular screening. Self-collection HPV tests make screening easier by offering more testing options and creating a more comfortable experience for you. Step-by-step instructions in the test kit make collecting your sample simple. You should not experience any pain while collecting the sample. Self-collection gives you privacy to complete the test either in a healthcare setting or at home, depending on the type of test you choose. Completing the test is a quick and accurate way to identify if you are at risk of cervical cancer.
How can I receive the self-collection HPV test?
Since self-collection HPV tests have only recently been approved, they are still in the process of being rolled out. If you are interested in the in-clinic self-collection HPV test, you should ask your doctor if it is available at their office. The at-home self-collection HPV test will soon be available in Iowa. Once available, the test can be ordered from Teal Health’s website.
Main Takeaways
- Self-collection HPV tests, both in a healthcare setting and at home, are now FDA-approved for cervical cancer screening.
- Getting regular screenings is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
- Self-collection HPV tests are private, easy, painless, fast, and accurate.
- If your self-collection test is positive, follow up with your doctor to discuss additional testing or treatment.