The FDA Approves First U.S. At-Home Tool as a Pap-Smear Alternative

The FDA has approved the first U.S. at-home alternative to the Pap smear—a major milestone in women’s health and public health innovation. Teal Health’s self-screening device, the Teal Wand, allows women to collect vaginal samples at home and mail them to a lab for HPV testing, a proven method for detecting the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers.

Research shows the at-home method is as effective as in-clinic tests and is overwhelmingly preferred by women, especially those overdue for screening. This tool could reduce racial disparities, increase screening rates, and support the public health goal of eliminating cervical cancer altogether. Read the full article from NPR here.