What is the Teal Wand testing for?

With the Teal Wand, you are collecting a vaginal sample which will be tested for high-risk HPV (Human Papillomavirus) at the lab, as a screening for cervical cancer. Persistent high-risk HPV infections are the cause of nearly all cervical cancers. Samples collected with the Teal Wand cannot be used to test for anything other than high-risk HPV.

The Teal Wand allows you to collect a vaginal sample, which you then mail to a lab to test for high-risk HPV using an FDA-approved primary HPV test. Primary HPV testing is the most sensitive screening test for cervical cancer and is the preferred test that is recommended by the American Cancer Society and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Just like the clinician’s office, your sample is tested for the 14 types of high-risk HPV that present the highest risk of causing cervical cancer. Among them, HPV 16 and 18 are the highest risk types. According to the CDC, in about 10% of women with high-risk HPV infections, the infection can be long-lasting and put them at risk for cervical cancer. When a high-risk HPV infection remains undetected (e.g., without screening) and persists for many years, it can cause cell changes on the cervix and progress into cervical cancer. We are here to help you stay healthy and on top of your routine cervical cancer screenings by offering a convenient screening alternative.