We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




New Self-Collection Medical Test Makes HPV Screening Easier for Patients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Jan 2025

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U. More...

S. HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, typically during sexual activity with someone who carries the virus. There are over 200 types of HPV, but not all lead to cancer, including cervical cancer. Certain high-risk types of HPV can evade the immune system and persist in the body, damaging cells and potentially causing them to become cancerous. If cervical cancer is detected early, it can be completely cured. However, if diagnosed later, cervical cancer is much harder to treat and often incurable. Pap tests enable the detection of precancerous changes in the cervix, which can be treated to prevent cancer. HPV is a key indicator of these changes, and precancerous conditions rarely develop without the presence of HPV. Traditional cervical cancer screenings are performed during pelvic exams. At present, there is no standard medical test for high-risk HPV. However, there are various tests where patients collect their own samples, such as nasal swabs for COVID-19, urine samples for pregnancy, and stool tests for colorectal cancer. Now, tests for high-risk HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer, have also been added to this list.

In December, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new draft guidelines recommending that women may self-collect vaginal samples for HPV testing during visits to their clinician. Experts believe this approach could increase screening rates and lead to earlier detection of cervical precancers and cancers. In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved self-collection kits for use in a clinician’s office. The approved tests include Onclarity HPV from Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) and cobas HPV from Roche Molecular Systems (Basel, Switzerland). These tests are similar to those used by gynecologists to screen for high-risk HPV and have shown to be very effective. Since the kits currently approved by the FDA are for collection in a clinician’s office, most patients will likely obtain them from their primary care provider. The patient is provided with an instruction sheet and a collection swab for insertion into the vagina. Afterward, the patient goes into a restroom to collect their sample and returns it to the clinician, who then sends it to a lab for analysis. In the future, self-collection from home may also become an option.

These tests make HPV screening significantly more accessible for patients who may not be able—or willing—to see a gynecologist for various reasons. Some may lack access to a gynecologist, have experienced trauma that makes pelvic exams particularly difficult, or have hectic schedules that cause them to continually delay their visit. If they visit their primary care provider, they can perform an HPV test right then. If the result is negative—indicating no HPV present—they will not need another cervical cancer test for five years. If the result is positive, they need to follow up with a gynecologist for further screening. Experts believe these tests will boost screening rates, help identify individuals with high-risk HPV, and reduce deaths from cervical cancer.

“I think this testing is going to make it much easier for women to ensure they are up to date with cervical cancer screening, said Caroline Goldzweig, MD, chief medical officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network. “Many women see primary care physicians who may not routinely perform pelvic exams, and having to make a separate visit to a gynecologist can be a barrier for patients. Cervical cancer is so preventable, given what we now know about how to manage early abnormalities, that every case is a tragedy.”

Related Links:
BD 
Roche


Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
Droplet Digital PCR System
QX600 AutoDG
New
Biochemistry Analyzer
Chemi+ 8100
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tip optofluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid, multiplexed antibody profiling using only 1 μL of fingertip blood (Photo courtesy of hLife, DOI:10.1016/j.hlife.2025.04.005)

POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood

As new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge and individuals accumulate complex histories of vaccination and infection, there is an urgent need for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately assess... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The LIAISON PLEX® Gram-Positive Blood Culture Assay runs on the on the LIAISON PLEX instrument (Photo courtesy of Diasorin)

Blood Culture Assay Enhances Diagnostic Stewardship Through Targeted Panel Selection

Each year, around 250,000 individuals in the US are diagnosed with bloodstream infections (BSIs). Sepsis caused by these infections carries a mortality rate ranging from 16% to 40%, and any delay in administering... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.