Prevent Cancer Foundation applauds FDA’s approval of at-home HPV test
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a first-of-its-kind, at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) test to screen for 子宮頸癌. The news comes just one year after the FDA’s approval of HPV self-collection in a health care setting, such as an urgent care clinic, primary care doctor’s office, lab, or pharmacy.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable and most often caused by HPV, a common virus that is responsible for more than 90% of cervical cancers and at least five other types of cancer. Screening options—like the Pap test, a high-risk HPV test, or a combination of the two—help detect cervical cancer early, which can lead to better health outcomes. But many people miss out on screenings due to barriers such as nervousness about the screening, difficulty finding the time (busy schedule), or lack of reliable transportation. The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2025年早期発見調査 revealed that over half (54%) of participants eligible for cervical cancer screening said they were not up to date or were unsure if they were up to date on their cervical cancer screening.
Similar to self-collection in a health care setting, the recently approved at-home HPV test, offered by Teal Health, has the potential to increase access to routine cervical cancer screening for people who have avoided it due to these barriers. The test can be ordered by mail after a telehealth appointment with a Teal Health provider and can be done at home, and the swab is then sent to a lab for analysis. While the test must currently be prescribed by a health care provider at Teal Health, other health care providers will soon be able to place orders as well.
“With the Teal Health at-home cervical cancer screening, you are testing with the same test that is used by doctors today, you are just collecting the sample comfortably at home with the Teal Wand,” said Kara Egan, CEO of Teal Health. “So women can confidently choose to get the same screening either at-home or in the office with the same accuracy.”
がん予防財団® is optimistic about increased access to cervical cancer screening when patients have another option to detect HPV. The Early Detection Survey showed multiple testing options can make a difference, with 42% of participants who are not up to date or unsure if they are up to date on one or more of their routine cancer screenings indicating an at-home test would make them more likely to prioritize their routine screening.
“We’re pleased to see more options available to help more people detect cancer early, because early detection equals better outcomes,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “Innovation plays an important role in making screenings doable for people—and if we can increase screening rates, we can save lives. This advancement represents a significant step forward in equipping people with the tools they need to check their health and stay ahead of cancer.”
According to Teal Health, testing kits will be available for shipping in June 2025, beginning in California before expanding nationwide. This screening option does not replace the need for your annual primary care and gynecologist visits, where other important health care conversations and checks take place. Teal Health has said they are working on making sure the test is in-network with all major insurance providers. Check with your insurance company to see if this test would be covered for you.
Teal Health’s testing kits are designed for the high-risk HPV test, which checks for specific types of HPV linked to cervical cancer and other cancers. For people who are of average risk for cervical cancer, follow these screening guidelines:
- Ages 21–29: Pap test every 3 years. A Pap test looks for precancerous or cancerous cervical cells which, if found, can be removed.
- Ages 30–65: Any of these options:
- 3年ごとにパップテストのみ。
- A high-risk HPV test alone every 5 years. Teal Health’s new test is an at-home option of this type of test.
- 5 年ごとに高リスク HPV 検査とパップ テスト (同時検査) を実施します。
免疫システムが抑制されている（HIV 感染、臓器または幹細胞の移植、または長期のステロイド使用など）、子宮内で DES にさらされた、または子宮頸がんまたは特定の前がん状態を患ったことなどにより、子宮頸がんのリスクが高まっている場合は、より頻繁に検査を受ける必要があるかもしれません。医療提供者の推奨に従ってください。
For more information on cervical cancer, visit preventcancer.org/cervical.