World’s first cancer screening test: DIY Pap smear that is ‘extremely easy and comfortable to use’ and can check for 14 HPV strains

Women can take their own smear tests from home thanks to a new device that could boost screening rates.

The world’s first tampon test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) is being launched in Britain this week.

It is hoped that the do-it-yourself screening will enable those who are too embarrassed or afraid of cervical cancer screening to get tested for the leading cause of cervical cancer.

The HPV screen was created by gynecological health startup Daye, which has already created a similar product to test for STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.

It can be ordered online for £69 and tests for 14 different strains of the virus, which are the cause of almost all cases of cervical cancer.

The launch, which follows a similar test for sexually transmitted infections, comes after the NHS pledged to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040.

NHS cervical screening data shows uptake has fallen steadily over time, from a high of just under 76 percent in 2011

Symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, and pain in the lower back or pelvis

The tampon is inserted like a traditional tampon and must be worn for at least 20 minutes to obtain a sample.

This is then sent to a UK laboratory for testing and results are returned within ten days.

If women test positive for high-risk HPV, Daye advises them to take the results to their GP, where they can then be referred for further testing or a colposcopy on the NHS.

The launch, which follows a similar test for sexually transmitted infections, comes after the NHS pledged to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040.

Valentina Milanova, founder of Daye, said she hoped this latest innovation would help reach hard-to-reach patients.

She said: ‘Eliminating cervical cancer by 2040 will require a joined-up approach to vaccination, screening and testing, and we hope to encourage more women to proactively test for HPV.

‘Using the familiar tampon, this hassle-free HPV test kit is extremely simple and comfortable to use, and we hope it will lead to more patients taking control of their long-term health and fertility.’

HPV infections are also incredibly common, with about eight in ten people becoming infected at least once in their lives.

Most species show no symptoms, but can cause health problems from cancer to fertility problems.

Around 3,300 people are still diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in Britain, with almost all cases – 99.8 percent – ​​caused by persistent high-risk HPV infections.

The introduction of a national vaccination program in 2008 and a national screening program have both helped numbers fall by more than a quarter since the 1990s.

Despite being one of the deadliest cancers in women, the latest UK screening data shows only two-thirds (68.7 percent) of the 4.62 million women eligible for screening are up to date.

As part of its pledge to increase its use, the NHS is keen to introduce home tests, which should help reach people who would not normally attend screening appointments.

Although Daye’s home HPV screen is not yet available on the NHS, it is part of the Accelerator for Innovation programme, which is supporting promising developments that could one day change practice.

A spokeswoman for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said eight in 10 people will be carriers of the HPV virus at some point in their lives and nine in 10 people will be cured within two years.

She said: ‘Along with HPV vaccination, cervical screening (smear test) is one of our best tools for preventing cervical cancer and we encourage women to attend their free NHS appointment for cervical screening when invited.

‘However, we understand that attending cervical cancer screening can be challenging for some women, and we support the development and clinical trial of some new self-sampling techniques within the NHS programme.

‘It is important to remember that HPV home test kits are not currently part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, so even if someone discovers they have HPV with a home test kit, they will not be able to have cervical screening sooner. appointment if they don’t have one.’