Alternative to the Pap Smear – Innovative science for any gender – HPV via Urine.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) The HPV is a double stranded DNA virus which is classified into low-risk HPVs involved in causing anogenital and cutaneous warts, and high-risk HPVs that are involved in causing oropharyngeal and anogenital cancers, including cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the most common type of HPV-induced cancer worldwide and, is the third most common cancer responsible for the highest mortality in women after breast cancer. Disadvantages of the Current HPV Screening Approaches Testing for high-risk Human papilloma virus (HPV) as part of primary cervical cancer screening has become more common in recent years. However, the screening coverage have been found to be low even in developed countries. One of the major reasons for low screening rates is that the current screening approaches are based on invasive and anxiety provoking endocervical sample collection. Women often feel reluctant to go through Pap smear due to physical discomfort, embarrassment, and other religious and cultural barriers. Another limitation of the current HPV screening approaches is that the tests are not gender neutral and target only women, which leads to low screening rates in non-binary people. The cervical screening of trans men and other genders, especially those lying on the female-to-male spectrum, is equally important. Furthermore, cis-gender males, particularly homosexuals, are also prone to chronic HPV infections and serve as HPV carriers, transmitting it to women and other men through sexual contact. Urine-based HPV testing The detection of HPV in urine samples is a non-invasive and cost-effective method which is well accepted by women and trans people in the United States. The first void urine testing also has the potential to increase the rates of HPV screening especially in non-binary people who prefer self-sampling and are not willing to go through invasive sampling procedures and speculum examinations. Research has shown that women prefer urine-based testing for high-risk HPV detection over clinician-obtained smears. A urine-based gender-neutral test HPV can infect everyone and is not just a female issue. Telostrand Innovations has developed a noninvasive urine-based test modifying the previously FDA-approved Thin Prep cervical test”. This test combines the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of cobas with the non-invasive and less painful sampling procedures of urine-based testing. It is a more convenient alternative for people who may have difficulty scheduling a clinical appointment and undergoing more invasive procedures. Moreover, it can also help those with past trauma (rape and sexual assault victims), those with specific religious and cultural believes that avoid pelvic exams. The test has been validated in using urine samples and fulfills the requirements for its use in primary cervical screening.