National roll-out of NHS HPV self-testing kits
Women who have not attended cervical screening appointments following an invitation will be offered Human Papillomavirus (HPV) home self-testing kits.
The NHS roll-out started today, 25 August, and it is expected up to four million women will be sent a self-test kit.
The invitation to take part in HPV self-testing will initially be limited to an eligible group of women and anyone with a cervix aged 30 to 65, who have not attended cervical screening following previous invitations.
How it works
Eligible patients will be invited to take part in HPV self-testing via the NHS App, in a text message (SMS), an email or a letter. Once they have received the invite they can order a kit in the NHS App, through their NHS online account or via the order telephone line.
The 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, where it is checked for high-risk HPV which can cause cervical cancer.
If high-risk HPV is found, individuals 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 change.
Cervical screening
Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for high-risk types of HPV. Women aged 24-64 are invited for cervical screening by the NHS every five years, or more frequently if HPV is detected. However, latest figures show that around a third of eligible women are not up to date with this routine check-up.
HPV self-testing roll-out
The home HPV self-testing service will be gradually rolled out through an initial testing period, after which non-responders to cervical screening will be invited, over the course of up to one year. The service will then move to 'business as usual', as people who have not attended cervical screening following previous invitations become eligible for self-testing.
Anyone who has been invited for cervical screening can still book an appointment at any time, even if the invitation was sent months or years ago.
People who routinely attend their cervical screening test at their GP practice or sexual health clinic should continue to book their appointments as normal.
Read the full story here: Home HPV self-testing kits rolled out
Click here to download a patient information leaflet which will support health care professionals to answer patient questions.
Encourage uptake of cervical screening
As yet, there is no evidence to show that switching to HPV self-testing is as effective at preventing cervical cancer as regularly attending cervical screening.
We have produced a toolkit to support our colleagues in general practice in improving uptake of cervical screening among eligible patients. Find it here: SSCA/cervical screening
Encourage uptake of the HPV vaccination
The HPV vaccine used in the NHS programme protects against nine high-risk types of HPV which can cause 99%* of cervical cancers, plus mouth, anal, penile, vulval and vaginal cancers. (*World Health Organisation)
Year 8 schoolchildren (usually aged 12 and 13) are given the HPV vaccine through the school immunisation programme. However, if a child misses their HPV vaccine at school, they can catch up with the vaccine through their school or GP practice and remain eligible to receive it until they turn 25.
We have produced a toolkit for colleagues in general practice to improve opportunistic uptake of the HPV vaccine for the catch-up cohort and help prevent HPV-related cancers and diseases.