NHS England rolls out HPV self-testing kits for cervical screening
- Aug 25
- 2 min read
NHS England has started rolling out HPV self-testing kits for women who are not up to date with cervical screening.
Nearly 4 million women in England may be offered the kits if they have not attended cervical screening appointments following previous NHS invitations.
The self-testing kit contains a swab, similar to a long cotton bud, which is used to collect a sample from the vagina. The sample is then posted back to the NHS for free and tested for high-risk human papillomavirus, known as HPV.
High-risk HPV can cause changes to cells in the cervix. These changes can usually be treated before cervical cancer develops.
If high-risk HPV is found, the person will be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment at their GP surgery or sexual health clinic, where a nurse or doctor will take a small sample from the cervix to check for cell changes.
NHS England said cervical screening appointments with a clinician remain the best way to help prevent cervical cancer. HPV self-testing is being introduced as an additional choice for people who have not taken up previous invitations.
The rollout is invitation-only and will be phased across England as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, starting with women aged 30 to 65 who have not attended screening following previous invitations.
Eligible women will receive invitations through the NHS App, text message, email or letter. Once invited, they will be able to order a free kit through the NHS App or their NHS online account.
NHS England said the rollout follows the YouScreen trial, which found that offering self-testing kits to under-screened women at their GP practice or at home could increase screening numbers in England by around 400,000 each year.
The broader relevance
Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer, but not everyone finds it easy to attend.
Some people delay or avoid screening because of embarrassment, lack of time, worries about discomfort, previous difficult experiences, trauma, mobility, caring responsibilities or the practical challenge of booking and attending an appointment.
Home testing may remove some of those barriers by giving eligible people a more discreet and convenient way to take part.
It does not replace routine cervical screening appointments. People who already attend screening should continue to book their appointments as usual.
The announcement applies to England.