FDA approved home PAP smear alternative device for cervical cancer screening
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new device called The Teal Wand, which its creators describe as a “home vaginal sample self-collection device for cervical cancer screening.” This may be especially useful for women who find uncomfortable, painful, and even traumatic pap smears, for women who may not have time to see a doctor or have a disability to stop them from traveling to consult one. Users who get the Tsubasa will have to wipe their vaginas with a sponge tool. They then have to send a swab in for testing it in order to test HPV or human papillomavirus, which can lead to most cervical cancers.
Since the user did not scratch cells from the cervix like using a mirror during a pap smear, there were no samples to analyze abnormalities under a microscope. but The New York Times It is noted that some authorities now recommend HPV testing as the primary screening for cervical cancer. Last year, the National Cancer Institute launched a network of clinical trials called “Cervical Cancer” “Last Mile” program and worked with Roche to provide participants with similar self-collecting solutions. The Cancer Institute explained at the time that HPV vaccines and regular screenings can highly prevent cervical cancer, but half of all diagnosed cases in the United States are individuals who have never been screened or rarely. Self-collecting devices can greatly expand access to cervical cancer screening.
Teal Wand users will be able to dial in to a company’s telehealth service with providers that can provide them with instructions on how to use the device. The user will then have to separate the swab from the wand, put it in a vial, mark it, and then mail it for testing. Teal Health claims its solutions proved to be as accurate as critical screening during clinical studies. The company will begin issuing wands to California residents in June and then expand availability nationwide. It hasn't priced the device yet, but it says it's working with insurance providers so that the wand can be covered by their plans. The company also intends to work with donors to subsidize fees for those without insurance and to provide flexible payment methods.
