(Image: Yorkshire Cancer Research)
A NEW at-home HPV testing kit could help save lives by catching cervical cancer early.
The kits, now being offered to women who have missed cervical screening appointments, have been welcomed by Yorkshire Cancer Research as a step towards eliminating the disease.
Vicky Napp, head of research and clinical trials at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: "Yorkshire Cancer Research is pleased to see the NHS begin rolling out free at-home HPV testing kits to women who have not attended cervical screening appointments, marking an important milestone in making cervical screening more accessible and helping to eliminate cervical cancer for good."
Cervical cancer is almost completely preventable, yet in Yorkshire around three in ten women invited for screening do not attend their appointment.
Research funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research suggests the self-sampling approach could boost uptake.
Preliminary findings from the Catch-up Screen study suggest that more than half of women aged 60 and over in Hull and Manchester took up the offer of at-home testing.
Research suggests introducing self-sampling could help more than 100,000 additional women in Yorkshire participate in screening over the next three years.
Ms Napp said: "Screening saves lives and remains one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer."