In-clinic and At-home HPV Self-collection Test
Getting regular screening is one way to prevent cervical cancer from developing or help find it early, when treatment is more likely to be successful. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening recommends regular testing for women and anyone with a cervix at average risk starting at age 25.
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). A primary HPV test is the preferred screening test for cervical cancer. This test checks for infection with certain types of HPV.
HPV testing done on a cervical sample collected by a health care provider is still the preferred option for this test, but some people may choose to collect their own sample for HPV testing. This is called self-sampling or self-collection.
- What is HPV?
- What is an HPV test?
- How is an HPV test self-collected?
- Why might someone choose self-collection?
- Who should not use self-collection for HPV testing?
- How often do I need to be screened if I choose to self-collect my HPV test?
- Why is a sample collected by a health care provider preferred over self-collection for HPV testing?
- Does insurance cover a self-collected HPV test?
- Are self-collected HPV tests accurate?
- What do my self-collected HPV test results mean?
- Questions to ask your health care team
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is spread through intimate contact, including sex. Infection with HPV is very common in teens and adults. There are many types of HPV. These are often broken into low-risk types and high-risk types. In most people, the body gets rid of HPV infection on its own. But sometimes, the infection doesn’t go away.
Infection with low-risk types of HPV can cause papillomas, or warts. Chronic or long-lasting infection with certain high-risk types of HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer along with some cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and mouth and throat.
Read more about this in What Is HPV and Cancers Linked with HPV.
What is an HPV test?
An HPV test looks for HPV infection. The HPV test detects high-risk types of HPV that are more likely to cause precancers and cancers of the cervix. Learn more about this, including how an HPV test is different from a Pap test, in HPV Testing.
An HPV test is most often done on a sample of cells collected by a health care provider during a pelvic exam. This is the preferred option for cervical cancer screening. But self-collection of a sample from the vagina is now an option, too.
How is an HPV test self-collected?
To do a self-collected HPV test, you use a long cotton swab to collect a sample from your vagina. This can be done privately in a health clinic or office, or at home. Both options require a health care provider to order the test.
Self-collection should only be done using tests and collection devices approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These are only available through your health care provider.
Self-collection in a health clinic or office
Self-collected HPV tests are approved by the FDA for use in health care facilities under the supervision of a health care provider.
For this test, your health care provider gives you the collection kit and you collect the sample from your vagina. This is usually done in a private space at the health clinic or office. The provider then sends the sample to a lab for testing.
Self-collection at home
Self-collected HPV tests for use at home are also now FDA-approved as a screening test option. At-home, self-collected HPV testing is only available to a limited number of people at this time, although it is likely to become more widely available in the future.
For an at-home HPV test, a health care provider must still order the test and provide the collection device. You will get a collection kit with instructions on how to prepare for the test, how to use the swab to collect a sample, and how to mail it to the lab.
Why might someone choose self-collection?
Self-collection offers a way to collect a sample from your vagina for HPV testing without a pelvic exam. Some people don’t want their health care provider to do a pelvic exam for physical or personal reasons, such as:
- Trouble getting up on the exam table
- Anxiety about having a pelvic exam
- Pain or discomfort during the pelvic exam
- A history of sexual trauma
- Cultural or religious beliefs
- Gender identity
- Transportation, time constraints, or other barriers to traveling for screening
Check with your health care provider to see if self-collection at home or in the clinic is an option available for you.
Who should not use self-collection for HPV testing?
Self-collected HPV testing, either in the clinic or at home, is not recommended for certain people. This includes anyone with a history of cervical cancer, as well as anyone at higher risk for cervical cancer due to factors such as:
- Abnormal tests or precancers in the past
- Solid organ or stem cell transplant
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Taking medicines that suppress the immune system
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth
If you have any of these factors, talk to your health care provider to decide whether self-collection HPV testing is an option for you.
How often do I need to be screened if I choose to self-collect my HPV test?
The amount of time between HPV screening tests is different if you choose to self-collect the testing sample.
- If the results of self-collected HPV testing are negative (normal), repeat HPV testing is recommended every 3 years.
- This is different from HPV testing on cervical samples collected by a health care provider, which is recommended every 5 years.
Read the full American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening to learn more.
Why is a sample collected by a health care provider preferred over self-collection for HPV testing?
Some people may be more comfortable with collecting their own vaginal sample for HPV testing. But one downside is that if a self-collected HPV test result is positive (abnormal), you’ll still need to see a health care provider who will collect a sample from your cervix for more testing.
HPV tests done using a cervical sample collected by a health care provider are preferred because if the test result is positive, the lab can run more tests on that same sample to help determine the next steps for you.
Does insurance cover a self-collected HPV test?
Insurance coverage of routine cervical cancer screening tests is mandatory for people ages 21 to 65. But screening might not be covered if you have a health plan that was in place before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed.
Many states also have laws that require private insurance, Medicaid, and employer health plans to cover routine screening tests. Not every state has laws requiring plans to cover the cancer screening tests that are recommended in ACS guidelines. Even in states that have such laws, these laws can vary.
Read more in Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening: Financial Issues. You can also call your insurance company to ask about coverage and any possible out-of-pocket costs.
Are self-collected HPV tests accurate?
Yes. Self-collection for HPV has been studied by researchers and screening programs around the world. Research shows the test is just as accurate as a sample taken in the office by a health care provider.
What do my self-collected HPV test results mean?
If your self-collected HPV test is negative (normal) and you have no unusual symptoms, your health care provider will tell you when to be checked and tested again. In most cases, you will need repeat testing in 3 years. Remember, getting screened regularly is the most reliable way to know if you have HPV, to help find and treat precancers, and to find cervical cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully.
If your self-collected HPV test is positive (abnormal), you will need follow-up testing. Usually, this means having a pelvic exam with a cervical sample collected by a health care provider. The provider may also collect a Pap test sample during the pelvic exam. In some cases, you may also need a closer exam of your cervix called a colposcopy. These follow-up steps are done to see if there are any abnormal or precancerous cells that need treatment or monitoring.
Questions to ask your health care team
- What is my risk for cervical cancer?
- What screening tests do I need? How are they collected?
- Is HPV self-testing an option for me?
- Is HPV self-collection at home available to me?
- Is there a cost difference depending on the test I choose?
- How often do I need to be screened?
- Written by
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Kang, J. FDA clears self-collection device for cervical cancer screening. Medical Professionals Reference. 2025. Accessed at https://www.empr.com/news/fda-clears-self-collection-device-for-cervical-cancer-screening/ on November 17, 2025.
Madding RA, Currier JJ, Yanit K, et al. HPV self-collection for cervical cancer screening among survivors of sexual trauma: a qualitative study. BMC Women's Health. 2024. 24:509. doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03301-x.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). FDA approved HPV tests that allow for self-collection in a health care setting. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2024/fda-hpv-test-self-collection-health-care-setting on November 17, 2025.
Perkins RB, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al. Self‐collected vaginal specimens for human papillomavirus testing and guidance on screening exit: An update to the American Cancer Society cervical cancer screening guideline. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025. doi.org/10.3322/caac.70041.
Wentzensen N, Massad LS, Clarke M, et al. Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee. Self-Collected Vaginal Specimens for HPV Testing: Recommendations From the Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 2025. 29(2):p 144-152. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000885
Last Revised: December 4, 2025
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