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HPV urine test 'should be used instead of cervical smear'

Women should have their urine tested instead of a cervical smear test to screen for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), an STD which can lead to cancer, experts have said.

Researchers from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry found urine tests had "good accuracy" when it came to detecting HPV.

Scientists hope adopting urine tests would boost HPV detection and save lives, as it is a less invasive and painful option than a cervical smear test.

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HPV urine test 'provides a simple method'

Changing the way women are tested for cervical cancer from a smear to a urine test "provides a simple method" all women can use, an expert in women's health has said.

Queen Mary University's Dr Neha Pathak told Good Morning Britain: "This provides a simple method - that they can just pee into a pot and send that off."

HPV urine test could lead to 'self-sampling'

Urine tests for HPV could boost the number of lives saved by allowing women to take part in the screening process in the privacy of their own homes, scientists have said.

Researchers behind a study on alternatives to cervical smear tests, published on thebmj.com, explained:

In well-resourced health systems, self-sampling could be used for women who are reluctant to attend for regular cervical screening.

In lower income countries that lack infrastructure, self-sampling might even be beneficial and cost effective for all women who are eligible for screening.

More research is now required to identify the true clinical performance and acceptability of urine testing for HPV in both settings.

– Spokesperson for researchers

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HPV urine test 'should be used instead of smear'

Women should have their urine tested instead of being given a cervical smear when doctors screen for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - an STD which can lead to cancer, experts have said.

Urine testing would encourage more women to come forward, experts said. Credit: REUTERS/Valentin Flauraud

Researchers from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry found urine tests had "good accuracy" when it came to detecting HPV.

Of the 14 studies they examined, they found there was an 87% accuracy rate, and 94% of negative tests were correct.

Scientists hope adopting urine tests would boost HPV detection and save lives, as it is a less invasive and painful option than a cervical smear test.

Cervical cancer kills around 266,000 women globally, according to the World Health Organisation. While many strains of HPV are harmless, two of them - HPV 16 and HPV 18 - can trigger cancer.

Read: Cervical cancer screening age to be debated in Parliament

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