Self-collected vaginal specimens for human papillomavirus testing and guidance on screening exit: An update to the American Cancer Society cervical cancer screening guideline
- Study type
- Clinical guideline
- Study name
- ACS Cervical Screening Update 2026
- Design
- Update of the American Cancer Society (ACS) screening guideline
- Source
- CA Cancer J Clin · 2026
In plain words
The American Cancer Society now accepts that women aged 25 to 65 at average risk can collect their own vaginal sample for the HPV test; in that case a negative test should be repeated every 3 years (compared with 5 years for a sample taken by a clinician). To stop screening after age 65, negative HPV tests at ages 60 and 65 are needed.
Key guideline recommendations
- ACS
Primary HPV testing with a clinician-collected sample is preferred and is repeated every 5 years after a negative result.
- ACS (endorsement of the Enduring Consensus Committee recommendation)
A self-collected vaginal sample is acceptable for people at average risk aged 25 to 65; after a negative result, repeat in 3 years.
- ACS
Exiting screening: negative primary HPV testing (preferred) or negative co-testing (acceptable) at ages 60 and 65, with the last test no earlier than age 65; in their absence, three consecutive negative Pap smears with the last test at age 65.
Study population
Women and people with a cervix at average risk.
Endpoints
Clinical guideline; no specific outcome.
Safety and side effects
Not reported in the abstract.
Clinical significance and place in guidelines
It introduces self-collection into the ACS guideline as an acceptable method for primary HPV screening and makes the criteria for exiting screening stricter (negative HPV tests at ages 60 and 65).
Limitations
Real-world long-term effectiveness data for self-collection are limited; only for FDA-approved device and test combinations.
This summary was prepared by the editorial team from the published paper; the original paper is the final reference. Read the original abstract on PubMed.