Millions of women offered HPV home testing kits in major NHS cervical screening rollout

Nearly four million women in England who are behind on their cervical screening will be offered free HPV home testing kits as part of a major NHS drive to increase screening uptake and prevent cervical cancer.

The new service began rolling out on Tuesday, 25 August, and will initially target people aged between 30 and 65 who have not attended cervical screening following previous NHS invitations. Eligible patients will receive an invitation through the NHS App, text message, email or letter and can then order a free kit online.

The self-testing kit contains a swab which is used to collect a vaginal sample at home. It can then be returned to the NHS free of charge and tested for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus responsible for almost all cervical cancers.

Anyone whose home test detects high-risk HPV will be invited to attend a follow-up cervical screening appointment at their GP surgery or sexual health clinic, where a clinician will take a cervical sample to check for abnormal cell changes.

The NHS hopes the new approach will help tackle some of the barriers that prevent women from attending traditional screening appointments, including embarrassment, concerns about discomfort, difficulty getting to appointments and finding time around work and other commitments.

Latest NHS figures show just 68.8% of eligible women are up to date with cervical screening, below the NHS England target of 80%. Around four million women are currently not up to date.

Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for Women’s Health at NHS England, described the introduction of home testing as a “gamechanger”, saying it would provide a more discreet and convenient way for women who have previously missed screening to be tested for HPV.

The national rollout follows the YouScreen trial in North London, which found that offering HPV self-testing to under-screened women could result in around 400,000 additional people taking part in cervical screening each year. Evidence from the trial subsequently contributed to the UK National Screening Committee recommending self-sampling for people who delay or do not attend screening.

Importantly, home HPV testing is being introduced as an additional option rather than a replacement for routine cervical screening. Clinician-led cervical screening remains the preferred approach for people who normally attend their appointments.

The programme forms part of the NHS ambition to eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040, combining increased screening participation with HPV vaccination and earlier intervention.

Read the NHS England announcement

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.