In an effort to combat the prevalence of cervical cancer in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first ever at-home cervical cancer screening kit.
On Friday, May 9, the FDA approved the Teal Wand, an at-home vaginal sample self-collection device created by Teal Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to USA TODAY.
A prescription device, the Teal Wand will allow individuals with uteruses to test for human papillomavirus, or HPV, at home. HPV is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer, and for decades, HPV testing has only been available in tandem with an in-person pap smear.
As Teal Health prepares to roll out the first Teal Wands this summer, here's what to know about the newly approved at-home cervical screening kit.
What is the Teal Wand?
The Teal Wand is an at-home vaginal sample self-collection device, used to test for HPV. The wand features a sterile sample ball used to swab the inside of the vagina.
How does the Teal Wand work?
The Teal Wand is a primary HPV test, a cervical cancer screening method that looks for the presence of HPV, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV is a common viral infection spread through sexual contact.
According to the Teal Health website, Teal Wand collection kits are tested at Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment-certified labs.
Once test results are available, patients may access them through a Teal Health account and visit with a Teal Health provider, if necessary. Test results will be available about one week after mailing samples in, the Teal Health website states.
How do you get the Teal Wand?
Teal Wand kits will begin rolling out in California in June, according to a Teal Health news release. Those interested in learning more about the kit when it becomes available can join the Teal Wand waitlist on the Teal Health website.
Because the Teal Wand is a prescription, a virtual visit with a Teal Health provider will be necessary before a Teal Wand kit can be mailed. If eligible, the collection kit will be shipped directly to your home.
Here's who the Teal Wand isn't recommended for
According to the Teal Health website, the Teal Wand is not recommended for anyone who:
- Is pregnant
- Has a history of cancer in the reproductive system, HIV, DES exposure or immunosuppression
- Had a treatment for cervical precancer
In-person pap smears are still the best option, doctor says
Though the Teal Wand provides a new opportunity to test for HPV at home, in-person pap smears will remain the best option, Dr. Ami Vaidya, co-chief of gynecological oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center's John Theurer Cancer Center, told USA TODAY.
"When women come in to their healthcare provider or a gynecological evaluation, quite often, breast exams are done. Examination of the vulva is performed, the vagina is visualized," Vaidya said. "The cervix is directly visualized. A bimanual exam is often done that allows us to get a sense of the size and shape of the uterus, to look or feel for any masses.
She continued: "None of that is possible with the at-home test."
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
In most cases, strains of HPV cause cervical cancer. When exposed to HPV, most bodies prevent the virus from doing harm, but in a small percentage of people, the virus survives for years, contributing to the build-up of cervical cells that become cancerous, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In the United States, about 12,000 cases of cervical cancer are reported each year, Vaidya said.
Who should get screened for cervical cancer?
The CDC recommends that individuals with a uterus get their first pap smear at 21. If a pap smear is normal, your health care provider may advise you to wait three years until your next one. Pap smears should be continued on this regular basis until about age 65.
For those over the age of 65, a pap smear may no longer necessary if you've had at least three pap tests or two HPV tests in the past 10 years with normal or negative test results; haven't had cervical precancer in the past; or had your cervix removed as part of a total hysterectomy or non-cancerous conditions, like fibroids, according to the CDC.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com.
