FDA approves first at-home test for cervical cancer screening

The cervical cancer test has been approved

The team said the alternative to in-person smear tests will hopefully encourage people in America to conduct cervical checks, as many avoid their smear test appointments in person.

The team at Teal Health was overjoyed when the FDA approved the at-home smears.

They were approved following a study involving more than 600 women. The women involved in the study self-collected samples and were then compared to clinician-collected samples.

Teal's co-founder, Kara Egan, said this approval is "not just about an innovative new product, it’s about finally giving women an option that makes sense for their lives, something that can be done quickly and comfortably at home."

How does it work?

The team explained that women will be given an at-home collection kit from Teal. Your order will be reviewed to ensure eligibility, and the kit will be prescribed by a provider. Once approved, it will ship to the customer's home.

Once you receive the kit, you can then perform the self-collection at home then seal the sample, and ship it to the lab.

The team added, "The sample you collect with the Teal Wand is tested on an FDA-approved Primary HPV test, the recommended cervical cancer screening test by the American Cancer Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force."

Certified doctors and medical professionals will review the results. The team will follow the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) defined guidelines.

The results will then be sent to the patient's Teal account. They can then meet with a Teal Health provider virtually to discuss their next steps.

The Teal team will contact those who need follow-up care.