Quest Diagnostics has announced the launch of a new self-collection option for human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, allowing patients to collect their own samples in clinical environments across the US.
The move is aimed at improving accessibility to cervical cancer screening for patients who may face barriers to traditional provider-collected testing.
Initially available in physicians’ offices and other healthcare settings, the option enables patients to perform the specimen collection themselves under guidance.
Quest Diagnostics plans to expand the service to its network of 2,000 patient service centres nationwide starting early next month.
The expansion builds on the company’s existing self-collection offerings, including those introduced in late 2024 for genital tract infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium.
Quest Diagnostics vice president and women’s and reproductive health services general manager Kathleen Valentine said: “Cervical cancer is highly preventable when detected early, and yet, over 4,000 American women will die this year of cervical cancer primarily due to inadequate screening.
“Our goal is to make HPV screening more accessible and discreet for women who may otherwise skip or delay this vital preventive care test and therefore increase their risk of developing cervical cancer.”
The self-collection method makes use of a solution developed by Roche, which was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in May 2024 for use with the Swiss firm’s cobas HPV test. The approval covers clinical use only with at-home self-collection not permitted under current FDA regulations.
While the service provides patients with an alternative to conventional specimen collection, it is not intended to replace a pelvic examination by a clinician.
Quest Diagnostics said that patients are encouraged to inform their healthcare provider if they are pregnant or have symptoms potentially associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. These may include pelvic discomfort, pain during sexual activity, abnormal discharge or a strong odour.
If a patient cannot self-collect, the specimen should instead be collected by a healthcare provider in a clinical setting, said the firm.
With this rollout, Quest Diagnostics aims to reduce logistical and privacy-related obstacles that may prevent individuals from completing routine cervical cancer screening. The new method enables patients to collect samples in a private room using a step-by-step instructional guide provided by the clinic.
Once collected, the sample is transferred to a nearby Quest Diagnostics laboratory for testing, with electronic delivery of results to both the patient and their healthcare provider.
The company has confirmed that the service will be made available at no additional charge to patients or healthcare plans.
