Self-testing HPV kits could increase numbers willing to be screened

The CervicalCheck programme is now considering ways in which self-sampling kits could be added to the screening programme for the virus which can put women at risk of developing cervical cancer.

The introduction of self-testing kits for HPV could increase the number of women willing to get screened for the virus, new Irish research shows.

The CervicalCheck programme is now considering ways in which self-sampling kits could be added to the screening programme for the virus which can put women at risk of developing cervical cancer.

A survey by the National Screening Service of 2,024 women asked their preferred method for screening with differences found between those who already regularly attend and those who have never been screened.

The findings show “65% of those who were never screened and 62% of those who were under-screened would choose self-sampling”.

Among women who go to GPs or women’s health clinics for screening, some “41% of those who have attended cervical screening regularly would choose self-sampling”.

The survey also showed a slight increase in interest when women were given extra information about how self-testing works, from 51% to 54% overall.

Sinéad Woods, Senior Public Health Officer, said: “These preliminary results are the first indication that the introduction of HPV self-sampling has the potential to increase the number of women who participate in cervical screening in Ireland.” 

Writing on the NSS website, she said: “Women who were never screened or were under-screened would choose the self-sampling option.”  

"Options for implementing a self-sampling option” are now being considered by CervicalCheck, Ms Woods added. This will take account of international experience and research, she said.

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Dr Laura Heavey, Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the NSS said globally self-testing is mainly done in the woman’s home.

“Self-sampling involves a swab (like a long cotton bud) or a soft brush that you use to collect a sample from your vagina. You don’t have to touch your cervix with the swab,” she said.

A testing kit can be sent to the woman’s home, or she can collect it from her GP. This sample is then posted to a laboratory for testing, she explained on the NSS website. Some private online providers already offer HPV home-testing kits in Ireland.

In Australia, self-collection has been an option since 2022. The woman can choose to do the test herself, but it is still done in a healthcare clinic, in a private room.

In the UK, the HPValidate study is expected to report early this year on a comparison of accuracy between self-tests and clinician-done tests. 

Analysis led by the Catalan Institute of Oncology, published in the journal Preventative Medicine in 2022, found 48 countries using HPV-based screening among 139 screening for cervical cancer. At that point 17 of the 48 had introduced self-testing.