Federal Cervical Cancer Testing Guidelines Expanded to Allow Self-Administered HPV Test

Federal guidelines are beginning to expand options for cervical cancer screenings beyond human papillomavirus (HPV) smear tests, commonly called Pap smears, according to a news release from NBC News.¹

What Are the New Guidelines, and What Do They Recommend?

The new recommendations, which were released on January 5, 2026, by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), state that women aged 30 to 65 years with an average risk of cervical cancer can opt for a self-administered human papillomavirus (HPV) test. This is a promising change that can promote adherence, as women often report disliking the test and that it is uncomfortable and stressful.¹

Additionally, the recommendations suggest that women should receive an HPV test every 5 years, either via self-swab or clinician-administered test. Although health care professionals are still obligated to make Pap smears available, they are no longer the preferred cervical cancer screening method for women aged 30 years and older. The HRSA still recommends that women aged 21 to 29 years still receive Pap smears every 3 years.¹

This update follows new recommendations made by the American Cancer Society, which endorsed self-swab HPV tests every 3 years for women aged 25 to 65 years; however, they still prefer a clinician-administered test every 5 years.²

How Do Self-Administered HPV Tests Work?

Studies such as the SELF-CERV (NCT06120205) trial, which assessed the efficacy and feasibility of the Teal Wand (Teal Health),^3,4 have determined that self-swab HPV tests are similarly accurate to those administered by a trained health care professional.

Specifically, after screening with the Teal Wand, about 98% of participants successfully collected a valid sample with the device, and 92% and 39% reported being able to collect a sample within 5 minutes and 2 minutes, respectively. Notably, 86% of users said that they would be more likely to stay up to date with cervical cancer screening if they were able to complete it at home, and 94% preferred to self-collect with the device if they knew it was accurate.³

Self-administered HPV tests involve inserting a plastic tube—similar to a tampon—into the vagina and twisting the handle to collect cells that can then be examined in a lab. Pap smears require the use of a metal or plastic speculum—which women often describe as uncomfortable—to widen the vaginal canal, allowing a health care professional access to the cervix.¹

Why Is This Change Significant?

Although cervical cancer is considered to be highly preventable, rates are increasing every year among women in their 30s and early 40s, likely because of delayed screenings or missing out on HPV vaccinations. The vaccines can prevent more than 90% of cervical cancers, and routine screenings help detect HPV infections or precancerous cells. These tests are critical to women’s health, but they are inconvenient and uncomfortable for most. Specifically, women report experiencing pain, nervousness, and discomfort with the speculum during the screening, and 32% report delaying their screening because of discomfort alone.³

For these reasons, experts sought a screening method that is as accurate as going to a health clinic or specialist’s office while also being comfortable and able to be conducted at home. Experts are optimistic that promoting a more comfortable, less stressful option will increase screening rates, especially for women living in rural areas who do not have accessible health care clinics within their area.^1,3 It is predicted that across all racial and ethnic groups, screening engagement can increase by up to 20% from where adherence rates are currently.³

Since 2024, the FDA has approved 2 self-swab tests, of which one is the Teal Wand, that can be ordered after a telehealth visit with a health care professional.¹

“Self-collection for [high-risk] HPV screening is an important and innovative breakthrough in the fight against cervical cancer and has the potential to increase screening rates and save lives. By reducing testing barriers, expanding choice, empowering women, and eliminating patient cost sharing, HRSA’s new Women’s Preventive Services guidelines for cervical cancer screening are a powerful step forward for women’s health across the US,” experts wrote in a JAMA editorial on the updated guidelines.⁵

REFERENCES

1. Bendix A. Dread Pap smears? Federal guidelines now allow for a self-swab HPV test. NBC News. January 5, 2026. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hpv-self-swab-test-pap-smears-federal-guidelines-rcna251757

2. McGovern G. American Cancer Society Updates Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines to Include Self-Collection for HPV Testing. Pharmacy Times. December 5, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/american-cancer-society-updates-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines-to-include-self-collection-for-hpv-testing

3. McGovern G. FDA Approves Teal Wand, First At-Home Self-Collection Cervical Cancer Screening Device. Pharmacy Times. May 9, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-approves-teal-wand-first-at-home-self-collection-cervical-cancer-screening-device

4. SELF-CERV Pivotal Study: SELF-Collection for CERVical Cancer Screening. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06120205. Updated July 18, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06120205

5. Christine B, Bush M, Thurakal A, Sheehy AM. New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines From the US Department of Health and Human Services: Strengthening Women’s Preventive Health. JAMA. Published online January 05, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.26456