In January 2026, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced that women could choose self-testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) instead of having a doctor conduct a Pap or cervical cancer test. Experts hoped that this would increase screening for the virus, which is responsible for 90% of cervical cancer. 

A study published today in JAMA Network Open looked at which patients follow through with home testing. While some participated, more outreach needs to be done to include diverse communities, say the authors, from The Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Permanente Northern California.   

“The findings suggest that a substantial proportion of eligible patients will elect home-based screening, but efforts are needed to support participation across demographic groups,” the authors wrote. 

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Northern California asked 13,714 patients—who were due for a routine cervical cancer screening or were overdue—if they would prefer a home test. The group included people ages 25 to 62 from diverse backgrounds including, 3,577 (26.1%) Asian or Pacific Islanders, 844 (6.2%) Black, 2,870 (20.9%) Hispanic, 5,357 (39.1%) White, and 1,066 (7.8%) mixed-race people. 

Of this group, 2,557 people (18.6%) asked for a self-screening kit with a flocked swab that allowed them to collect a sample from their vaginas. People who were older, experienced some health conditions, and were White were more likely to request a home test, with White patients making up 1,264 (49.4%) of people opting for self-tests. More than half, 1,382 (54%), of those receiving kits returned them within two months. People who sent back their kits tended to be 45 or older, consistently underwent HPV screenings, and were White.

Higher uptake observed among older patients may reflect experience with cancer screenings, concern regarding cancer, or discomfort with pelvic examinations.

Those who were past due on their screenings, had a spotty screening history, had a higher body mass index (indicating overweight or obesity), or had too many health complications were less likely to return their kits. They were also less likely to ask for a home test “possibly reflecting lower health system engagement,” the authors wrote. 

While one in five people asked for a self-test, only one in 10 people returned it. The researchers suspect patients’ history influences their willingness to use a home test. 

“Higher uptake observed among older patients may reflect experience with cancer screenings, concern regarding cancer, or discomfort with pelvic examinations,” the authors wrote.