31 May 2020

Key points

  • The tools: the traditional cotton swab is commonly used to collect cells, and there are also brushes made specifically for collecting vaginal and cervical HPV cells. It needs fewer tools than a Pap smear and causes less discomfort.
  • The process: compared with booking an appointment, travelling to the clinic and waiting for the doctor, self-sampling is convenient — collect the kit from the clinic, take it home, and do the test at a time of your own choosing.
  • Afterwards the sample can be brought back to the clinic yourself or sent by post. It saves time, and the collection is done without a stranger present.
  • A report is available in about a week.
  • The result shows any HPV infection. There are two groups of HPV — high risk (cancer-causing) and low risk. A low-risk result is not a great concern, as the immune system fights off most of it. If a high-risk HPV is found, a Pap smear should follow to identify any early-stage cell lesions.
  • A reminder: the Pap smear remains the standard test for cervical cancer screening in Hong Kong, and taking one regularly is recommended.