Home kit
HPV Home Test
A self-taken vaginal sample tested for 19 high-risk HPV DNA types, reported as type 16, type 18 or other high-risk types.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 2 to 3 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 marker measured
High-risk HPV DNA (grouped)
Looks for the DNA of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, the main cause of cervical cancer. Types 16 and 18 cause at least two-thirds of cases. Most HPV infections clear on their own within 2 years; the risk comes from infection that persists.
Overview
Nearly all cervical cancer follows a long-lasting infection with a high-risk type of HPV, which is why HPV testing is now the first step of NHS cervical screening. This kit uses a small self-taken vaginal sampler at home, with no speculum and no appointment, which is the reason most people choose it: they have missed an invitation, are between GP practices, or have found the clinic examination difficult in the past.
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by long-lasting infection with a high-risk type of human papillomavirus, which is why HPV testing has replaced the smear as the first step in cervical screening. This kit uses a small self-taken vaginal sampler, so there is no speculum and no appointment. Most HPV infections clear on their own within a couple of years without ever causing harm. This is not a cervical smear and it does not look at cervical cells, so it sits alongside NHS screening rather than replacing it.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Women aged 25 and over
- Women aged 25 and over who are overdue or between NHS screening invitations
- Anyone who has found the speculum examination difficult before
Who it isn’t for
- This is not a cervical smear. It looks for the virus, not at your cervical cells, so it cannot see the cell changes a smear reports. It also does not replace NHS cervical screening, which is free, well organised and includes the follow-up pathway.
- NHS cervical screening starts at 25, because cervical cancer is very rare before then and cell changes at younger ages usually settle on their own, so screening under 25 is not recommended. NHS England is also starting to offer free HPV home kits, by invitation and region by region, to people aged 30 to 65 who are overdue, so check whether you have been invited before you buy. Any unusual bleeding, particularly after sex or between periods, needs a GP appointment now rather than a home test.
- This test is for people aged 25 and over.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Overdue for cervical screening or between NHS invitations
- Registered abroad or between GP practices
- Having found the speculum examination painful or distressing before
- Wanting a check between routine screens
- Preferring to start with a home sample before booking a screening appointment
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- High-risk HPV DNA (grouped)Detected
- Result
- Other high-risk types detected
- Range
- High-risk HPV DNA not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk HPV DNA (grouped) | Other high-risk types detected | n/a | High-risk HPV DNA not detected | Detected |
Doctor’s note (example)
High-risk HPV DNA has been found, from the group other than types 16 and 18. Most of these infections clear on their own, and the follow-up a clinician would usually suggest is a repeat test in twelve months alongside your NHS screening invitations.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleA swab you take yourself at home, using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 2 to 3 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home swab kit
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Women · ages 25+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
HPV results are reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. Most HPV infections clear on their own without causing any harm, so a detected result is common and is not a diagnosis of cancer or of cell changes. A not-detected result means a lower chance of cell changes over the next few years, but no test finds every abnormality.
This test sits alongside NHS cervical screening rather than replacing it, and symptoms such as bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause need your GP whatever the result says.
Frequently asked questions
Is a self-taken sample as reliable as one taken by a clinician?
For finding high-risk HPV, self-taken vaginal samples perform very close to clinician-taken ones, which is why several national programmes now offer them. Where they differ is that a self-sample cannot be used for cell examination.
What if high-risk HPV is found?
Most infections clear on their own within about two years, and finding HPV is not the same as finding cell changes. A self-taken sample cannot be checked for cell changes, so the usual next step is a cervical screening test taken by a nurse or doctor, where the cells can be looked at. The reviewing doctor explains what was found and how to arrange that through your GP.
Can I take the sample during my period?
It is better to wait until bleeding has finished. Avoid vaginal creams, pessaries or lubricants for a couple of days beforehand too, since they can interfere with the sample.
Should I still go for NHS screening?
Yes. This sits alongside the NHS programme rather than replacing it. Keep your invitations, and take this result with you if it is relevant.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 2 to 3 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a swab you take yourself at home, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. HPV is reported as detected or not detected, with the types found where your test names them. A self-taken sample cannot be checked for cell changes, so if high-risk HPV is found the usual next step is a cervical screening test taken by a nurse or doctor, arranged through your GP. Results are not added to your NHS screening record, so keep taking up your NHS cervical screening invitations. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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