The American Cancer Society recommends Self-swab HPV test for cervical cancer screening.
- 2 days ago
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In a major update to women’s health guidelines, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has announced that cervical cancer screening can now include “self-swab” Human papillomavirus (HPV) tests. This move, detailed in a report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, introduces the option of self-collection of vaginal samples for primary HPV testing. While clinician-collected cervical specimens remain the preferred method, self-collected specimens are acceptable.
The shift addresses a long-standing barrier to regular screening: the speculum exam associated with traditional Pap tests (cytology), which some women find uncomfortable or painful. Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by high-risk strains of HPV. The new self-administered tests, three of which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 2024, allow patients to collect their own vaginal sample in a doctor’s office or even at home for subsequent mailing to a lab for analysis.
Experts, including Dr. Robert Smith of the ACS, anticipate that this accessibility will significantly improve compliance with screening and reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Despite rates of cervical cancer falling since the 1970s, more than 20% of American women are not up to date on screening. Self-collection is particularly crucial for alleviating socioeconomic and geographical disparities, as mortality linked to the disease is 42% higher in rural versus urban counties. For those in rural areas, self-collection is a critical resource, eliminating the need to travel long distances for health care access.
The ACS recommends that average-risk women initiate cervical cancer screening at age 25, utilizing primary HPV testing every five years through age 65. When using self-collected vaginal specimens, screening should be repeated every three years if the result is negative. This is in contrast to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which currently recommends starting HPV screening at age 30.
The updated ACS guidelines also provided clarification on when women can safely stop screening. Previously, both the ACS and the USPSTF recommended cessation at age 65. The new guidelines specify that women with an average risk of developing cervical cancer can stop being screened only if they have had consistent screening, with negative results, for at least a decade. Specifically, this means having negative primary HPV tests or negative co-testing (HPV test and Pap test done together) at ages 60 and 65.
The strong backing for HPV testing—both clinician-collected and now self-collected—as the primary screening method solidifies its status as the “gold standard” for cervical cancer detection.
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Keywords: Self-swab HPV test
Self-swab HPV test
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