NHS England adding at-home HPV testing to the cervical screening programme

By Tim Gunn.

Women and people with a cervix who are overdue for cervical screening in England will be offered an at-home testing option, in plans to help boost participation in the life-saving cervical screening programme.

The new initiative, announced today by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will offer women who are at least six months overdue for screening a self-sampling kit to complete at home and return to a lab via pre-paid mail. Anyone whose sample shows signs of high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus), the cause of almost all cervical cancers, will then be able to see a specialist for follow-up testing.

The approach has been shaped by the results of the YouScreen trial, which was led by some of our funded researchers and showed that a similar scheme could help screen 400,000 more people each year. It also follows on from DHSC’s own HPValidate study, which identified the most accurate and effective self-sampling kits and tests. Based on both studies, the UK National Screening Committee recommended self-sampling in March 2025. Early reporting suggests the rollout should begin in January 2026.

“Screening is a powerful tool to prevent cervical cancer and save lives, but we know it isn’t always easy for everyone to take part,” said Michelle Mitchell, our chief executive.  

“For some, the test may be uncomfortable, embarrassing, or simply hard to fit into their lives. That’s why we welcome this decision, which will break down some of the barriers and has the potential to improve participation rates by giving people more choice and control, allowing them to take a sample in the privacy of their own home, at a time that suits them.”

Helping more people take part in cervical screening

Cervical screening (sometimes known as a smear test) is for people without cancer symptoms. It works by testing for high-risk forms of HPV, the virus that causes 99.7% of cervical cancers.

By picking up potentially dangerous infections before they lead to cancer, cervical screening makes it possible for doctors to stop the disease developing at all, preventing thousands of deaths in England each year. In some cases, screening also helps identify early-stage cervical cancers, which are more likely to be treated successfully.  

However, less than 7 out of 10 people eligible for cervical screening in England are currently taking part, and participation has been declining for the past 10 years.

The reasons for that are complex. Our surveys show that feelings of embarrassment, worries about pain and work commitments can all play a role. There are also health inequalities stemming from the fact these barriers can have more of an impact on some groups than others. 

YouScreen showed that self-sampling could be particularly helpful for disadvantaged groups. When the results were published, Dr Anita Lim, who led the trial from King’s College London, said: “It’s really encouraging that we received self-samples from groups that have been historically underserved, including people from deprived and ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQI+ people, people with learning disabilities and victims of sexual violence.” 

In total, 6 in 10 people who took part in cervical screening through YouScreen were from deprived backgrounds, and around 6 in 10 were from ethnic minority groups.

How does self-sampling work?

Self-sampling involves using a vaginal swab (like a long cotton bud) to take a small sample of cells from the vagina. These cells can then be tested in a lab for signs of HPV.

Almost everyone who took part in HPValidate, which tested self-sampling at screening sites, reported that they had an excellent (75%) or good (23%) experience taking a sample with a swab.

Unlike the traditional cervical screening method, in which a trained clinician takes a sample of cells directly from the cervix, the cells collected through self-sampling can’t be tested for cell changes that could lead to cancer. Because of this, people whose self-samples show signs of HPV will need a follow-up screening appointment to check for abnormal cervical cells.

“The gold standard way to test for HPV is still a sample taken by a clinician,” said Mitchell. “But beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, and this move helps to bring us closer to that goal.”

To be invited for cervical screening you must be registered with a GP and ensure they have your up-to-date contact details. Screening invites are now first sent through the NHS’s app-based ‘ping and book’ service, which was also introduced to make screening more convenient. 

From 1 July 2025 in England cervical screening invites for all people without signs of HPV will be sent every five years instead of every three years. This is already the case in Scotland and Wales and reflects the increased effectiveness of HPV testing over the previous ‘smear test’ approach, which first looked for abnormal cells. It was recommended by the UK National Screening Committee in 2016. 

You can find out more about cervical screening here. We also have an article with tips on making cervical screening more comfortable for you. If you’re trans or non-binary, you can find out how to take part in cervical screening here.   

It’s important to remember that cancer screening is for people without symptoms. If you notice anything that is not normal for you, don’t wait for your screening invite, contact your GP.    

YouScreen was led by King’s College London in partnership with NHS Cancer Alliances in North Central and North East London, NHS England and the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. It was sponsored by University College London and funded by the Cancer Alliances for north central and east London, with additional supportive funding from Cancer Research UK.

HPValidate was led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by DHSC.