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January 26, 2026

With human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and regular screening, deaths as a result of cervical cancer are considered preventable—yet screening gaps persist. In the United States, only 51.6% of women 25–44 years old report receiving cervical cancer screening consistent with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of timely screening, increasing access to care, and improving patient education.

Despite the availability of effective screening methods, multiple barriers continue to prevent or delay cervical cancer screening among individuals with a cervix. Those who have experienced discomfort with pelvic exams or have a history of trauma may be reluctant to undergo screening that relies on specimen collection by clinicians. Others face logistical challenges, including limited access to healthcare facilities, transportation barriers, socioeconomic factors (such as lack of insurance or underinsurance), difficulty taking time away from work or caregiving responsibilities, or physical and mobility limitations.

At its core, cervical cancer screening is preventive. “The goal of screening is to identify high risk HPV infection at an early stage, when appropriate clinical intervention can prevent the progression of precancerous lesions or cervical cancer,” explains Salika Shakir, PhD, D(ABMM), medical director of the Molecular Automated Detection Laboratory, the AFB Laboratory, and New Technology Evaluation at ARUP Laboratories.

To help address these barriers, the FDA recently approved HPV testing using self‑collected vaginal specimens. The ARUP Consult® Human Papillomavirus topic has recently been updated, and now contains information on self-collection to help clinicians choose the right test at the right time.

Self‑collection offers an additional, guideline‑supported screening option that may improve access for patients who might otherwise not be screened. Importantly, self‑collection complements—rather than replaces—clinician‑collected screening. Shakir emphasized, “Self‑collection is not intended to replace clinician‑collected screening, but it provides an additional option for individuals who might otherwise remain unscreened.”

Because self collection can be performed in supervised clinical environments outside of traditional exam rooms, this approach may also support the expansion of cervical cancer screening through alternative care settings, including mobile health services and community based clinics, further improving access for underserved populations.

When considering HPV self‑collection, it is important for clinicians to be aware of several key considerations specific to ARUP Laboratories’ testing approach.

  • HPV self‑collection for testing through ARUP Laboratories must be performed in a clinical setting rather than at home. Following collection, a healthcare professional is required to immediately suspend the swab in ThinPrep® media to ensure specimen integrity and accurate testing.
  • Studies have shown that self‑collected vaginal HPV specimens demonstrate slightly lower sensitivity (approximately 91%) compared with clinician‑collected specimens (approximately 93%). However, HPV screening using either self‑ or clinician‑collected specimens is more sensitive than cytology (Pap) testing alone, which reinforces the value of HPV‑based screening strategies.
  • Self‑collection is intended for use in individuals for whom endocervical collection is not feasible. This includes patients with limited mobility, a history of trauma, or other medical, physical, or psychosocial conditions that prevent completion of clinician‑collected cervical screening. Self‑collection should not be viewed as a replacement for clinician‑collected screening when that option is available and appropriate.

A free educational resource, ARUP Consult is funded entirely by ARUP Laboratories. ARUP medical directors, who are active faculty members at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology, review and contribute to the content on ARUP Consult.

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ARUP offers additional educational resources related to women’s health, including:

 

Lindsay Mabry, lindsay.mabry@aruplab.com