Archive · 27 Aug 2026
NHS Offers Home HPV Tests to Close Cervical Screening Gaps
The NHS is offering some women a way to check for high-risk HPV at home.
The test uses a small swab and takes only a few minutes.
Women can collect the sample privately and send it back for free.
The offer is mainly for women aged 30 to 65 who missed earlier screening invitations.
Researchers found that many Asian women in Britain do not attend cervical screening.
Embarrassment, cultural concerns, worries about male clinicians and lack of time can make screening harder.
If the home test finds high-risk HPV, the woman must still visit a doctor or nurse for more tests.
Regular screening can find dangerous changes before cervical cancer develops.
The NHS hopes home testing will help England eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
Nearly four million women in England who missed previous invitations will be offered free HPV self-testing kits.
The programme initially targets overdue women aged 30 to 65 through NHS App, text, email or letter invitations.
Research found non-attendance was much higher among Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian women than White British women.
Women collect a vaginal sample privately at home and mail it free for high-risk HPV testing.
A positive result requires follow-up cervical screening with a clinician, as the NHS aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
- Who
- The NHS is offering tests to nearly four million overdue women in England, initially focusing on those aged 30 to 65; Asian women are a key group identified as facing screening gaps.
- What
- The NHS is introducing free HPV self-testing kits that allow eligible women to collect vaginal samples at home.
- When
- The programme begins on August 25; London practices had access to self-swab screening from August 27.
- Where
- The programme is being offered across England, with self-swab screening available at every GP practice in London.
- Why
- The NHS wants to reduce barriers such as embarrassment, discomfort, cultural concerns and lack of time, increase screening uptake and support its goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
- Eligible group
- Initially, women aged 30 to 65 who are overdue after previous cervical-screening invitations.
- Scale
- Nearly four million women in England will be offered kits.
- Screening coverage
- 68.8% of eligible women in England were up to date, below the NHS England target of 80%.
- Non-attendance
- The cited study recorded non-attendance of 61.7% among Pakistani women, 70.6% among Bangladeshi women, 66.4% among Indian women and 11.8% among White British women.
- Home test process
- Women use a swab to collect a vaginal sample, then post it back to the NHS free of charge.
- Positive result
- Women who test positive for high-risk HPV are asked to attend clinician-led cervical screening at a GP surgery or sexual health clinic.
- NHS target
- England aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.