HPV self-testing: a new way to help prevent cervical cancer
Cervical screening saves lives. The best way to protect yourself is still to go for cervical screening when you are invited.
From 25 August 2026, the NHS is introducing HPV self-testing. This is a new way to help people who have missed their cervical screening.
It is not a replacement for cervical screening.
Instead, it gives people who have not attended screening another way to take an important step to protect themselves from cervical cancer.
If you are invited for cervical screening, please go
Regular cervical screening is still the best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer. If you are up to date with your screening, please keep going to your appointments when invited.
Please don’t wait to be offered an HPV self-test instead.
The new home test is being offered first to people aged 30 to 65 who have not attended cervical screening after earlier invitations.
The NHS hopes this will help more people take part in screening and prevent more cases of cervical cancer.
What is HPV self-testing?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It is a very common virus. Most people will get HPV at some point in their lives and it usually causes no harm.
Some types are called high-risk HPV. These can cause changes to the cells of the cervix. If these changes are not found and treated, they can sometimes lead to cervical cancer.
HPV self-testing gives people who have missed cervical screening another way to check for high-risk HPV.
The test can be done yourself at home or somewhere private. You then post the sample back to the NHS for free. It is checked for high-risk HPV. Here’s how it works:
Get your invitation
The NHS will contact you if you are eligible for an HPV self-test. Your invitation will come through the NHS App first, or by text, email or letter.
Order your kit
If you are invited, follow the instructions to order your free HPV self-testing kit through the NHS App or your NHS online account.
Take your sample
Using a small swab, a bit like a cotton bud, gently take a sample from a couple of centimetres inside your vagina.
You can do this at home or somewhere private, without an appointment.
Post your sample
Put the sample into the packaging provided and post it back to the NHS using the free return service.
Your sample is checked
The NHS will check your sample for high-risk HPV and let you know what happens next.
Who will be offered a home test?
The first phase is for women and people with a cervix aged 30 to 65 who have not attended cervical screening after earlier invitations.
The NHS will contact people who are eligible. You cannot order a kit unless you have been invited.
Your invitation will come through the NHS App first. Make sure you have notifications turned on in the app.
If you can’t be contacted through the NHS App, you may receive a letter or text. But using the app is the quickest way, and we encourage all patients to use the NHS App.
What happens if you are invited?
If you receive an invitation, you can order your free kit through the NHS App or your NHS online account. Your invitation will explain other ways to order if you need them.
The kit will be sent to your home with full instructions.
Using a small swab, a bit like a cotton bud, you gently take a sample from a couple of centimetres inside your vagina. You can do this at home or somewhere private, without an appointment.
You then put it in the packaging provided and post it back using the free return service. The lab checks the sample for high-risk HPV.
If high-risk HPV is not found
You will be told what happens next and when you need to take part in screening again.
If high-risk HPV is found
A positive result does not mean you have cervical cancer.
The home test only checks for high-risk HPV. It cannot check for changes to the cells of your cervix.
If high-risk HPV is found, you will be asked to attend a cervical screening appointment. A nurse or doctor will take a small sample from your cervix. This will check for cell changes.
If changes are found, they can often be treated before they lead to cancer.
Why is the NHS introducing HPV self-testing?
Cervical screening is one of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer.
But some people find it hard to attend screening appointments. There can be many reasons for this, such as work, childcare, worry or past experiences.
HPV self-testing gives people who have missed screening another way to take part.
The aim is simple: to find high-risk HPV and help prevent cervical cancer before it develops.
It is part of the NHS plan to help end cervical cancer.
Frequently asked questions
Is HPV self-testing the same as cervical screening?
No.
With cervical screening, a nurse or doctor takes a sample from your cervix. The sample is checked for high-risk HPV and, if needed, for cell changes.
With HPV self-testing, you collect a sample yourself from inside your vagina. The sample is checked for high-risk HPV only.
If high-risk HPV is found, you will still need a cervical screening appointment. A clinician will then check for cell changes.
Is the home test as good as cervical screening?
We do not yet have enough evidence to say that HPV self-testing is as good at preventing cervical cancer as regular cervical screening.
If you can attend cervical screening, please do.
If you have missed your screening, HPV self-testing is the next best option.
Can I choose a home test instead of going for cervical screening?
Not at the moment.
The NHS is first offering self-testing to people aged 30 to 65 who have not attended cervical screening after earlier invitations.
If you are invited for cervical screening and can attend, please go to your appointment rather than wait for a home test.
Can I still book cervical screening if I have missed my invitation?
Yes.
You can book a cervical screening appointment at any time, even if you were invited months or years ago.
You can arrange an appointment through your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic.
I’ve had the HPV vaccine. Do I still need screening?
Yes.
The HPV vaccine does not protect against every type of HPV.
You should still attend cervical screening when invited. If you are invited to take part in HPV self-testing, you should take the test even if you have had the HPV vaccine.
What if I am worried about doing the test myself?
The kit comes with clear instructions that explain what to do.
You can take the test in your own home or another private place.
If you need extra help, for example because of a physical or learning disability, information about support will be included with your kit.
Where can I find out more about HPV and cervical screening?
To find out more about HPV and cervical screening on our Cervical Screening Saves Lives information hub.
It includes video guides and explainers, patient stories and our myth busters that tackle common worries and misunderstandings about HPV, the HPV vaccine and cervical screening.Cervical screening remains our best tool for preventing cervical cancer.
HPV self-testing is a new way to help people who have missed screening take that important first step.
If you are invited for cervical screening, please attend your appointment.
If you have missed your screening and are invited to take an HPV self-test, please take the opportunity to do it.
Finding HPV and cell changes early can help prevent cervical cancer and avoid deaths that could otherwise be prevented.