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NHS home HPV testing kits are rolling out in England, here’s who will get one

NHS home HPV testing kits are rolling out in England, here’s who will get one

Millions of women who are behind on cervical screening will be offered a free HPV self-test they can do privately at home.

Grace Cary/Getty Images

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: August 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM

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Nearly four million women in England who are behind on their cervical screening are set to be offered a new way to test for HPV from the privacy of their own home.

The NHS has begun rolling out free HPV self-testing kits for people who have not attended cervical screening following previous invitations. The kits can be ordered online when you're invited, completed at home in minutes and posted back to the NHS for free.

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It's an additional option rather than a replacement for cervical screening with a healthcare professional, but the NHS hopes it could help women who have struggled to attend appointments because of time pressures, embarrassment or worries about discomfort.

Who will be offered an NHS HPV home-testing kit?

The programme is being introduced in phases across England as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Initially, the invitation-only service will focus on people aged between 30 and 65 who haven't attended cervical screening following previous NHS invitations.

Those eligible will be contacted through the NHS App, text message, email or letter. Once invited, you'll be able to order your free kit using the NHS App or your NHS online account.

The latest NHS figures show 68.8% of eligible women are up to date with cervical screening, below NHS England's target of 80%. Around four million women in England are currently not up to date with their routine screening.

How does the at-home HPV test work?

The self-testing kit contains a swab, similar to a long cotton bud, which is used to take a sample from the vagina. You then return the sample to the NHS by post, free of charge, where it will be tested for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is very common, but some high-risk types can cause changes to cells in the cervix. Cervical screening is designed to identify this risk so changes can be monitored or treated before cancer develops.

If your home test finds high-risk HPV, you'll be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment at your GP surgery or sexual health clinic. A doctor or nurse will then take a sample from the cervix to check for cell changes.

Why is the NHS introducing home HPV testing?

Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women's health at NHS England, said only around two thirds of women currently attend cervical screening when invited.

She said: “Screening saves thousands of lives each year by preventing cancers and catching them earlier, but only around two thirds of women are attending cervical screening appointments when invited by the NHS.”

Dr Mann said barriers can include embarrassment, lack of time and concerns about discomfort.

Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a gamechanger – making it easier than ever for them to get tested for HPV.

Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health at NHS England

The national rollout follows the YouScreen trial, run by North London cancer alliances with NHS England and King's College London in 2021. The research found that offering self-testing to under-screened women at their GP practice or at home could increase the number screened in England by around 400,000 each year.

Does this replace your usual cervical screening appointment?

No. The NHS says cervical screening carried out by a clinician remains the best way to help prevent cervical cancer. Home HPV testing is being introduced as another choice for people who haven't taken up previous screening invitations.

If you routinely attend cervical screening at your GP surgery or sexual health clinic, you should continue booking your appointments as normal.

People aged 24 to 64 are invited for NHS cervical screening every five years, or more frequently if HPV is detected. If you've previously received an invitation but haven't booked, you can still arrange an appointment, even if that invitation arrived months or years ago.

And if you've had the HPV vaccine, cervical screening is still important. The vaccine doesn't protect against every type of HPV, so there remains a small risk of developing cervical cancer.

Why taking up screening matters

Dawn Bryant, 62, from Hertfordshire, had cancerous cells detected through NHS cervical screening when she was 32. After further tests, she was told she had cancer, but because it had been identified early, she was treated with surgery and did not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Dawn is now encouraging other women to attend screening or use the home test if they're offered one.

It is so important women go for these checkups or do the home-testing kit if invited. It doesn’t take very long and if you’re worried or have questions, the staff are excellent and will talk to you and help answer any fears you’ve got.

Dawn Bryant

The rollout is part of the NHS's aim to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, alongside increasing cervical screening attendance and uptake of HPV vaccination.

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Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.