Women can do their own smear tests from home thanks to a new device that could boost detection rates.
The world’s first tampon test to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) will be launched this week in the UK.
It is hoped that the home screening test will allow those who are too embarrassed or afraid of cervical screening to get tested for the main cause of cervical cancer.
The HPV test is performed by gynecological health startup Daye, which has already created a similar product to detect STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Available to order online for £69, it analyzes 14 different strains of the virus, which are behind almost all cases of cervical cancer.
It is hoped that the home screening test will allow those who are too embarrassed or afraid of cervical screening to get tested for the main cause of cervical cancer.
The launch, which follows a similar test for sexually transmitted infections, comes after the NHS pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
NHS cervical screening data shows that uptake has fallen steadily over time from a high of just under 76 per cent in 2011.
Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, and lower back or pelvic pain.
It is inserted like a traditional tampon and must be worn for at least 20 minutes to generate a sample.
It 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 eliminate 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 requires a joined-up approach to vaccination, screening and testing, and we hope to encourage more women to take proactive HPV testing.”
“By using the popular tampon, this simple HPV test kit is extremely easy and convenient to use, and we hope this will lead to more patients taking control of their long-term health and fertility.”
HPV infections are also incredibly common, with around eight in 10 people becoming infected at least once in their lifetime.
Most strains do not cause any symptoms, but they can cause health problems, from cancer to fertility problems.
Around 3,300 people are still diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the UK and almost all cases (99.8 per cent) are caused by persistent high-risk HPV infections.
The introduction of a national vaccination program in 2008 and a national screening program have helped rates fall by more than a quarter since the 1990s.
Despite being one of the deadliest female cancers, the latest UK screening data shows that only two-thirds (68.7 per cent) of the 4.62 million women eligible for screening are up to date.
As part of its commitment to increasing uptake, the NHS wants to introduce home testing, which should help reach those who do not usually attend screening appointments.
While not yet available on the NHS, Daye’s at-home HPV test is part of its Innovation Accelerator programme, which supports promising developments that could one day change practice.
A spokeswoman for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said eight in ten people will carry the HPV virus at some point in their lives and, of those, nine in ten will clear it within two years.
She said: ‘Along with the HPV vaccine, cervical screening (smear testing) is one of our best tools to prevent cervical cancer and we encourage women to attend their free NHS cervical screening appointment when invite them.
‘However, we understand that attending a cervical screening can be challenging for some women and we support the development and clinical trials 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 finds out they have HPV with a home test kit, they will not be able to have a further cervical screening test. early appointment if it is not due.’