HPV Self-Sampling Information for Healthcare Professionals

What is HPV self-sampling?

HPV self-sampling, also known as cervical self-screening, is a service that GPs can offer to women and people with a cervix who have never, or do not regularly, attend cervical screening. Individuals take their own sample from the vagina using a swab (like a long cotton bud) and this is tested for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.

This is being rolled out to GPs in north east London in phases, and is expected to be available to all practices by the end of 2026.

HPV Self-Sampling is offered opportunistically by GPs to eligible patients (see below). GPs should order a batch of kits prior to implementing this in their practice (instructions will be sent directly to practices).

Patients can either do the test in a private area in the GP practice or can take the test home with them to complete there (however, they must complete and return it within three days).

 

Inclusion criteria for HPV self-sampling

Any woman or person with a cervix at least 6 months overdue screening who is:

  • registered with a London GP participating in the pathway

  • aged 25.5 years to 64 years or aged 65+ and not screened since age 60; and

  • yet to meet the criteria to be ceased from the programme.

People hugging

Exclusion criteria for HPV cervical self-screening

  • has no cervix

  • has had a cervical screening result in the last 3.5 years for those aged 25-49, and 5.5 years in those aged 50-64

  • has been told that they need to do cervical screening again earlier than usual (early recall)

  • has been told they need a further colposcopy having already had a colposcopy, or that they may need more

  • colposcopies rather than returning to the normal screening pathway (test-of-cure pathway)

  • known to be pregnant

  • less than three months after giving birth

  • new to cervical screening in England (to be eligible for this pathway it must be at least six months since they

  • became eligible for cervical screening in England)

  • ceased/suspended 

CNS

Identifying and inviting eligible patients

NHS London, in collaboration with the Cervical Screening Management System (CSMS), have developed the following to support practices to identify eligible patients:

• CSMS ‘non-responder’ report: this report contains individuals who have not responded to their most recent cervical screening invitation and are now more than 6 months overdue, or who have been ceased due to age but were non-responders at the time of ceasing and are still under 65 years old and so remain eligible for their final screening test. Manage notification lists - NHS England Digital

• EMIS / SystmOne flag / clinical template: to alert staff of patient's eligibility at point of contact.

Note: clinical templates / flags will be set up automatically for all participating practices.

Further details and instructions can be found in the Professional Guidance for general practices.

Resources for patients

These resources can be used to help raise awareness of the service, as well as explain how it works to patients.

HPV Self-Sampling video

Watch this video for patients to explain how the service works. It is also available in different languages on YouTube. 

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

All information for healthcare professionals can be found on the NHS England page or click on the links on the right for easy access to resources.

"Every 2–3 months, I download the non-responder reports from CSMS and send a batch information text message to these patients, followed by a self-booking text invitation for an HPV self-sampling appointment. We have seen a good uptake from this approach so far.

During appointments, our nursing team discusses both options with patients — HPV self-sampling and conventional cervical screening — allowing them to make an informed choice."

Lead Practice Nurse from a practice with a high uptake