HPV Test Kit

A HPV test is a vaginal swab test that checks for high-risk HPV strains, which can increase your risk of certain cancers, such as cervical cancer.

Our HPV test detects strains 16 and 18 individually, as well as a panel test for other high-risk strains: 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73 and 82. Not all of these strains may be tested for by the NHS cervical screening (smear testing) service.

What’s the difference between a HPV test and a smear test?

A HPV test looks for certain high-risk HPV strains in your vagina and can be done at home. The swab only needs to be inserted a few centimetres into your vagina and takes a sample from the vagina walls. The sample is sent to a lab and the results will let you know whether you have a high-risk strain, and what to do next.

A smear test is carried out by a nurse or doctor, not at home. It involves using a speculum to open up the vagina, and a soft brush to take a sample of the cells in your cervix. Your cervix is at the top of your vagina, so the swab goes deeper inside than a HPV test does.

In the UK, cervical screening works by testing the cervical cells for high-risk HPV strains. If a high-risk HPV is found, the cells will be tested for changes. Not all cervical cell changes will develop into cancer, but your doctor may want to monitor you more regularly or provide treatment to remove the abnormal cells.

HPV testing is recommended for all women and people with a cervix, usually from the ages of 25 to 64. This is because cervical cancer is rare in people under 25 and over 64. It can affect anyone, even if you’ve only had sex once, or you’re in a long-term relationship with only 1 person.

Some people are at a higher risk of getting HPV, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), so you may be offered regular anal HPV screening. Your risk of HPV is also higher if you:

• started having sex at a younger age
• have had a lot of sexual partners
• have HIV

You should not use the HPV test if you are pregnant. Speak to your doctor or midwife if you’re concerned about HPV while being pregnant.

Why should I get tested for HPV?

You might want to get tested for HPV if you’re worried you’ve got the infection, such as if a sexual partner tells you they’ve tested positive for a high-risk strain.

Untreated HPV can lead to genital warts and cancer, so it’s good to get tested if you’re worried about getting it and are sexually active.

Can men use a HPV test?

Our home HPV test is specifically for women, but men can get tested too. HPV can cause some cancers in men but the risk is lower. Particularly, men who have sex with men should get regular anal screening for HPV.

You can use the HPV test if you’ve had unprotected sex and think you might be infected. If you cannot make an appointment with your doctor or would prefer to do the test at home, you can request our home HPV test kit from ZAVA.

Most women in the UK are vaccinated against HPV, but if you’re not, regular screening can help keep you safe. At the age of 25, you’ll be invited for regular NHS cervical screenings. You don’t need to test for HPV every time you have sex with a new partner, as long as your last HPV screening was normal. It can sometimes take weeks, months, or years for the virus to be detected.

Our HPV home test is in the form of a vaginal swab, it is not the same as a cervical smear. Your vaginal swab does not need to be inserted deeply, making it more comfortable, pain-free and easier to use.

The HPV home test kit comes with everything you need for the test, as well as an instruction leaflet. You do not need equipment, like a speculum that is used in smear tests.

Make sure to wash your hands before and after using the test with warm, soapy water.

Using the test kit:

1. Sit in a comfortable position to do the test, either standing up with one leg on a chair or sitting on the toilet with your legs apart.
2. Twist the cap from the sample tube and remove the swab.
3. Put the tube somewhere safe and upright, as you’ll need to put the swab back inside the tube when you’re done.
4. Hold the swab on the coloured line, around halfway down the stick.
5. Fold back the skin that covers your vagina, making sure to avoid the tip of the swab touching anything.
6. Gently insert the swab into your vagina – do not go any further than the coloured mark on the stick.
7. Rotate the swab gently around the vagina walls for about 20 seconds.
8. Gently remove the swab and place it inside the sample tube, securing the lid.
9. Fill out your details on the label provided and attach it to the tube. This is very important so that the lab can process your sample.
10. Place the tube inside the protective packaging and prepaid envelope. You can post your sample from any local post box.

Our HPV test is 99% accurate in detecting high-risk strains of HPV. All our tests are processed in a UK-based, accredited lab. These are the same labs that the NHS and other clinical services use.

To make sure your results are as accurate as possible, follow the instructions in the kit carefully.

You will get your HPV test results 7 working days after it reaches our partner lab, as this is how long it takes to process the sample. The sooner you take your test and send it, the sooner you will get your results.

We take your health and privacy seriously: Our HPV tests are sent out in discreet, unmarked packaging. Once your results are ready, they’ll only be sent through your ZAVA patient account – never through email or text. This means only you’ll have access, and any follow-up questions can be made through your account.

When you receive your HPV test results, it will include detailed instructions from one of our doctors on what to do next and what your results mean.

What does a negative HPV test result mean?

A negative HPV test result means you are not currently infected with a high-risk strain. You do not need follow-up tests or treatment unless there’s a reason you need to take another test in the future.

If you do not have the HPV vaccination, we recommend considering it. You can speak with your GP for more information on the HPV vaccine and the benefits of getting it. To keep your chances of getting HPV low, we recommend safe, protected sex.

What does a positive HPV test result mean?

A positive HPV test result means you are currently infected with a high-risk strain.

You should make an appointment with your GP straight away and let them know your results. You’ll need a colposcopy, a procedure that looks for abnormal cells in your cervix. Your GP may recommend removing the abnormal cells if any are found.

Please note: Testing positive for HPV does not mean you have cancer. It means that you’re at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers, like cervical or vaginal cancer. The colposcopy will check if any of your cells are abnormal. If they are not, HPV is likely to go away on its own, but you may need some follow-up tests to make sure it does.

HPV is a group of viruses, with more than 100 types. Most people will have it at some point in their life and it's most common inside the throat, mouth, genitals, and anus. HPV is very easy to catch through skin-to-skin contact, usually in sexually active people.

Due to how common the virus is, the HPV vaccine is typically given to children between the ages of 12 to 13, and to other people who are at a higher risk of catching it. The vaccine is the best way to prevent getting a high-risk HPV strain but there’s still a very small chance of catching it.

HPV strains

Most HPV strains are low-risk and cause no problems but there are around 14 high-risk strains. High-risk HPV strains can develop into cancer, particularly of the cervix.

The most common causes of cervical cancer are HPV 16 and 18, which lead to around 70% of all cervical cancer cases.

Some low-risk strains can cause warts in or around the throat, mouth, genitals, and anus and are usually passed through sex. Other cancers associated with high-risk HPV strains include:

• some types of head and neck cancer
• vaginal cancer
• vulval cancer
• penile cancer
• anal cancer

Symptoms of HPV

HPV does not usually cause any symptoms unless it develops into another condition.

As high-risk strains can cause cervical cancer, you must speak with your doctor straight away if you notice:

• abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as after sex, between periods, or after menopause
• a change in your periods, such as them being heavier, lighter or longer than normal
• pain during sex
• pain in the pelvis, lower back, or lower stomach
• abnormal vaginal discharge, such as a watery consistency, a strong odour, or it contains blood

“Symptoms of cervical cancer are also associated with other common conditions like an infection or endometriosis. Having these symptoms does not mean you definitely have cervical cancer but it’s still important to get checked by your GP. They may want to do some tests to make sure. It’s also important that you attend your cervical screening exams.” Dr Brenda Ikeji, Medical Editor.

How HPV is spread

HPV is easily spread through skin-to-skin contact and most commonly through sexual contact. You can get HPV from:

• sharing sex toys
• vaginal, oral, and anal sex
• skin-to-skin contact of the genital areas

You do not need to have penetrative sex to catch HPV and you can get it even if you’ve only had one sexual partner.

Risks of leaving HPV untreated

HPV is known to cause genital warts and cancer in some cases. Fortunately, most HPV strains don’t cause any problems, and your body will clear them up on its own within 2 years.