Revolutionary Home Cervical Cancer Screening Device Receives FDA Approval

(CNN) – In a transformative shift for cervical cancer screening in the U.S., patients can now opt for at-home self-collection of vaginal samples, eliminating the need for traditional in-office procedures involving stirrups and speculums. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the Teal Wand, the inaugural at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening, as announced by Teal Health. The agency previously recognized the device with "breakthrough device" status, expediting its review process. The Teal Wand comes within an at-home kit, requiring a prescription. Once used, samples are sent to a laboratory for HPV testing. Given that HPV commonly leads to cervical cancer, this screening is vital in identifying women at risk. Clinical trials indicate the self-collection method with the Teal Wand matches the accuracy of samples collected by healthcare professionals, enhancing accessibility to screenings and potentially increasing early detection rates. Teal Health aims to begin nationwide distribution of the kits in June, starting in California.