DIY smear tests are set to be rolled out on the NHS after they were found to substantially boost screening uptake, potentially saving thousands of lives.
The self-testing kits are expected to ‘revolutionise’ cervical cancer diagnosis after the biggest study yet found they would reach a million more women every three years.
The test could be sent in the post or collected from a GP surgery, allowing women to collect samples in the comfort of their own homes.
Health officials said the ‘groundbreaking’ new method would likely save the lives of thousands of women who have either delayed or never been screened.
In the first national screening programme trial by King’s College London, researchers found it could reach an additional 400,000 women in England every year.
Cervical screening uptake has been declining over the past two decades, with nearly a third of women in England not taking up their most recent test.
The self-testing kits like this one (pictured) are expected to ‘revolutionise’ cervical cancer diagnosis
Many younger women, in particular, are not responding to invitations, with fears over the test causing pain or embarrassment
Just 67.2 per cent of girls were fully vaccinated in 2021/22, down from a high of 86.7 per cent in 2013/14. Some 62.4 per cent of boys, who have been offered the jab on the NHS since 2019, were jabbed in the most recent school year, NHS data shows
NHS cervical screening data, which goes back to 2011, shows uptake was at its highest that year (75.7 per cent) and has fallen over time
Experts said it could help to ‘turn cervical cancer into a rare disease in the UK’.
Cervical screening uptake has been declining over the past two decades, with nearly a third of women in England not taking up their most recent test.
Many younger women, in particular, are not responding to invitations, with fears over the test causing pain, embarrassment and a lack of convenient appointments being blamed.
In the new trial, more than 27,000 YouScreen kits were issued from 133 GP practices in north and east London to women, aged 25 to 64, who were overdue screening, either through the surgery or by post.
Easy to use, the swab detects human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
Women used a vaginal swab – like a long cotton bud – to take their sample either at home or in their GP practice.
Of the 10,849 women offered a kit when speaking to their family doctor about something else, 85 per cent accepted and 6,061 (56 per cent) returned a self-sample.
Those who took the test at home were able to post their kit to a laboratory for free.
Half (52 per cent) of all those who returned a self-sample were at least two years overdue screening, including women who had never previously been screened.
The researchers said routine rollout of the kits in England could increase screening coverage from 70 to 77 per cent.
Lead investigator Dr Anita Lim, from King’s College London, said: ‘Self-sampling has been hailed as a game-changer.
‘It is crucial we make cervical screening easier . . . to help protect more people from this highly preventable cancer.
‘The YouScreen trial has given us the evidence we need to demonstrate that self-sampling helps get more women screened.’
The NHS invites women for screening every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if HPV is detected.
The evidence suggests self-sampling tests are similarly good at detecting pre-cancer cells as the standard cervical screening test taken by a doctor or nurse.
The Department of Health and Social Care said last night: ‘This trial shows a groundbreaking new way to screen for HPV, potentially saving the lives of thousands.’
Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex and lower back or pelvic pain
Thousands of women are still diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, leading to 685 deaths in England annually. Around half of women (51 per cent) survive 10 years or more after diagnosis. Diagnoses are most common among women in their thirties
52 per cent of all those who returned a self-sample were at least two years overdue screening, including women who had never previously been screened
The NHS invites women for screening every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if HPV is detected.
There are about 3,300 new cervical cancer cases – and 850 deaths – in the UK every year.
Last night, Professor Peter Sasieni, head of the research group at King’s College London, said: ‘We are well on our way to turning cervical cancer into a rare disease in the UK.
‘YouScreen showed this simple test is popular with both women and GP practices and could boost screening participation by over a million over three years.’
Other countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark and Sweden have already introduced the self-testing kits, according to the research published in the eClinicalMedicine journal.
Deborah Tomalin, NHS director of screening and vaccination, said: ‘The NHS will now be working with the UK National Screening Committee to consider the feasibility of rolling this out more widely across England.’
