HPV home-testing kits available for women in England who have missed cervical screening

Wednesday 26th August 2026

Women who have missed a cervical screening appointment in England are to be offered HPV self-testing kits by the NHS.

Over the next year, nearly four million will receive invites on the NHS App or via text message, email or letter to order a free kit to use at home.

Figures show around a third of women who are eligible cervical cancer screening have not taken up the offer recently.

The self-testing kits are designed to get more women checked for high-risk HPV virus, which causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer.