Many people dread going into the doctor's office for a Pap smear or HPV test, but that's no longer the only cervical cancer screening option. Now, we have the Teal Wand, the first and only at-home vaginal sample self-collection device for cervical cancer screening in the US. It allows people with a cervix to easily screen themselves for the highly preventable cancer from the comfort of their home.
After receiving FDA approval in May, the Teal Wand is now available in California. By 2027, it should be accessible across the US. If you're curious about giving it a try, here's everything you need to know.
How the Teal Wand works
"The Teal Wand is a self-collection device in which the collected sample is mailed to a lab to test for high-risk HPV using an FDA-approved Primary HPV test," said Kara Egan, Teal Health's CEO and co-founder.
The Teal Wand requires a prescription, which you can get through Teal Health on getteal.com. First, you fill out a medical eligibility questionnaire, order a screening kit and schedule a 10-minute virtual visit with a Teal provider. (You can see the OBGYNs and nurse practitioners on Teal's team here.) During the appointment, the provider will review your screening history and discuss the process. After the prescription is approved, a kit will be shipped directly to your home.
Collecting your sample at home only takes a few minutes. Print and video instructions can help guide you, and Teal support can answer questions. When you're done, simply package your sample and ship it to a CLIA-certified lab with the materials provided. (CLIA, or Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, are regulations requiring any facility examining human specimens, like tissue, blood and urine, for diagnosis, prevention or treatment purposes, to be certified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.)
After the lab processes your sample, a Teal provider reviews the results in accordance with the screening guidelines defined by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP). You'll receive results in your secure Teal portal within about a week after sending your sample. You'll be given the opportunity to virtually connect with a Teal provider to discuss any next steps. If follow-up care is needed, the Teal team will coordinate your referral.
What the Teal Wand tests for
Just like in the clinician's office, your sample is tested for 14 types of high-risk HPV (Human Papillomavirus) that present the highest risk of causing cervical cancer, Egan said.
According to the World Health Organization, 99% of cervical cancer cases are linked to HPV infections. Primary HPV tests are the most sensitive tests recommended by the American Cancer Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force for cervical cancer screening.
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