The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first testing kit in which women can collect their own samples for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening. While samples must be collected at a physician’s office or pharmacy, the new test offers patients the opportunity to collect the samples themselves in private. Researchers are currently testing an at-home HPV kit. The recently approved test may help more women detect the virus early, which is a key to preventing cervical cancer. The text may reduce barriers to HPV testing for many Americans. The majority of primary care physicians don’t provide HPV testing. Women are usually screened by gynecologists as part of a pelvic exam, a procedure that is not accessible for some women or is considered embarrassing or intrusive.
Full Story: HealthDay