Thousands of women in Lincolnshire to receive home HPV testing kits

Thousands of women across Lincolnshire who have not participated in cervical screening appointments will receive home HPV testing kits as part of a national rollout.

The NHS is distributing HPV self-testing kits to encourage women to complete their potentially life-saving screenings.

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can increase the risk of cervical cancer, with cervical screening playing a crucial role in its prevention.

March 2024 data indicates that around 53,000 eligible women in the area have not kept pace with cervical screening.

The initiative aims to make screening more accessible, checking for high-risk types of HPV which can lead to changes in the cervix and potentially develop into cancer.

How the HPV home testing kit works

The self-testing kit includes a swab, resembling a long cotton bud, used for sample collection.

The sample is posted back to the NHS at no cost, where it is tested for high-risk HPV.

If HPV is detected, a follow-up cervical screening appointment is arranged at a GP practice or sexual health clinic where a clinician checks for cell changes in the cervix.

Who will be offered a home testing kit?

HPV self-testing kits are by invitation only and are being introduced across England as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Women aged between 30 and 65 who have not attended previous cervical screenings will be eligible.

Invitations will be sent through the NHS App, text message, email, or letter, allowing recipients to order a free kit via the NHS App or their online NHS account.

This initiative supports the NHS’s commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by facilitating access to HPV vaccination and increasing cervical screening attendance.

Regular cervical screening appointments remain vital, and those routinely attending should continue booking them normally.

Anyone invited for cervical screening can still make an appointment, regardless of when the invitation was sent.