Major cervical cancer screening change could save lives by making tests EASIER

MAILING at-home HPV kits doubles cervical cancer screening uptake in hard-to-reach women, a study shows.

Sending out the tests helps the poorest, most at-risk women, US researchers found — potentially saving lives.

The tests allow women to give themselves a swab, rather than having to go to a doctor for the intimate procedure.

Professor Jennifer Smith, of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: “Mailed HPV kits can greatly improve screening uptake among underserved, at-risk women.

“We were thrilled to find a nearly two-fold increase in screening uptake.

“Many hadn’t engaged in the screening system for a while and getting the kit to their homes helped break down a fundamental barrier.”

The NHS started a trial of at-home tests in 2021, sending kits out to more than 31,000 women living in low-uptake areas in London.

They were sent to women aged 25 to 64 who were 15 months overdue for a check, with the aim of improving uptake.

Embarrassment, cultural barriers and fear about what it involves are often a key reason for women not attending appointments in-person, the health service said.

The tests identify whether you are positive for HPV — the virus that causes 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers.

Around 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with a quarter of them dying.

At-home tests differ from traditional smear tests you get at your GP because they do not take a sample of cells that can be analysed for abnormalities if you are positive for HPV.

This still needs to be done in-person by a medical professional.

The latest study, published in , looked at how successful sending at-home tests out were for boosting uptake in a US population.

Some 665 women aged 42 on average that had not had a smear test in at least four years were recruited.

One group was sent out the test kits and also given help to book an in-person appointment, while the other was only assisted in booking an appointment.

Some 72 per cent of the first group had a test, compared to 37 per cent in the second group.

Of the 16 per cent who tested positive on the at-home kits, 42 per cent attended a follow-up referral for a full smear test.

Dr Noel Brewer, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: “Government approval of at-home HPV tests would have a huge impact. 

“We could better reach those in rural areas where cervical cancer screening is hard to come by. 

“Also, only the people who self-test positive would need to go to a clinic for screening.”