At-home HPV Test - Primary Health

At-home HPV Test

At-home test kit

Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening kit. Designed to detect strains at high risk for cervical cancer.

FSA/HSA eligible

$70

FSA/HSA eligible

Currently available in 38 states.

What you get:

At-home test kit
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Tests for

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

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Recommended for

Anyone with a cervix who is at least 25 years old

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Collection method

Vaginal swab

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Treatment

Results of concern require follow-up from a licensed healthcare provider

At-home test kit lab in a box icon

Reasons to take an at-home HPV test

Save a trip to the gyno

Save a trip to the gyno by screening for cervical cancer from the comfort of your own home. Primary.Medical’s human papillomavirus (HPV) screening kit offers a quick and convenient way to see if you might be at risk of developing cervical cancer caused by some types of HPV. Designed for women 25 years and older.

About human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer

  • Certain types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may lead to cervical cancer.
  • HPV testing is the most accurate way to identify women at risk of developing cervical cancer.
  • Early detection of HPV can help reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer, genital warts, and other HPV-related complications.
  • HPV may be one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, but early detection is key to preventing an increased cervical cancer risk.
HPV FAQs

Questions and Answers about HPV (Human papillomavirus)

What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that may cause cervical cancer. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the United States.

Why screen for HPV?

HPV may lead to cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to get regular HPV screenings.

Screening tests can prevent cervical cancer or find it early enough to treat and cure.

What kind of test does Primary.Medical offer to screen for cervical cancer?

Primary.Medical offers an at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) test to screen for cervical cancer.

Our at-home HPV test is a quick, easy, and private way to check for the presence of high-risk HPV strains. The test uses a simple vaginal swab that you can take in the comfort of your own home. It’s a painless process that takes just a few minutes, and the results are typically available within a week. If the test comes back positive, we’ll provide you with resources and guidance to help you navigate next steps, such as seeking follow-up care from a healthcare provider.

What do my results mean?

Negative result: Great news! The lab did not find any high-risk HPV strains, which means your risk of getting cervical cancer is super low. If you’re over 30, you don’t need to worry about additional screening for three years. And if you’re under 30, don’t forget to get a Pap smear every three years.

Positive result: Okay, don’t panic! A positive result means the lab detected one or more high-risk strains of HPV, which increases your chances of getting cervical cancer. But don’t worry, this isn’t a cancer diagnosis, and catching it early is key! We recommend scheduling an appointment with your women’s healthcare provider for routine monitoring and testing.

Who should use Primary.Medical’s HPV screening kit?

Primary.Medical’s HPV screening kit is designed for anyone with a cervix who is at least 25 years old.

It is a great option for people who:

  • Missed their regular trip to their gynecologist
  • Would prefer to test from the privacy of their own home
  • Want to monitor their health more frequently

Note that the American Cancer Society does not recommend HPV screening if you are a woman under 21 years old, as HPV may clear up on its own and the chance for developing cervical cancer at that age is low.

How do I collect a sample for the HPV kit? Will it hurt?

The Primary.Medical HPV screening kit comes with everything you need, including instructions on how to collect a sample and send back your kit. The HPV screening kit includes a vaginal swab for you to use to get a sample. You only need to insert the swab about 2 inches (5 centimeters) into your vagina. Most people say that it does not hurt.

Can I take this test while on my period?

No, if you are menstruating, or having your period, wait until it is over before collecting a vaginal swab sample for the HPV test.

How often should I get screened for HPV?

The American Cancer Society recommends screening about every 5 years for women starting at age 25 up until 65 years of age. Some women should get screened more frequently, so talk to your doctor or our clinical team.

What is the test sensitivity for HPV screenings?

The sensitivity of the HPV test is 96.9%. This means that it detects the presence of the virus in the majority of cases when it’s actually present.

Which strains of HPV does this kit detect?

This option is designed to detect HPV strains 16 and 18, which are the strains at high risk for cervical cancer.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

Many people with HPV do not have any symptoms, and many people with HPV may not know that they have it. Some people with HPV may develop genital warts, which are rough, cauliflower-like lumps in your genital area.

How is HPV transmitted?

HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can be passed on even when there are no visible symptoms, and some people may not even know they have it.

How can I protect myself from HPV and cervical cancer?

The most important way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is to get screened for HPV.

You may also:

  • Get vaccinated: If you are 26 to 45 years old and didn’t get an HPV vaccine when you were younger, talk to your doctor about getting one.
  • Practice safer sex: Use condoms correctly and consistently, talk to your partner(s) about their status, and consider limiting your sexual partners if possible.

Should I screen for HPV if I’ve gotten the HPV vaccine?

Yes, even if you’ve gotten the HPV vaccine, you should screen for HPV since the vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

Does the Primary.Medical HPV screening kit screen for genital warts?

No, this test screens for the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, not genital warts. If you think you have genital warts, schedule a visit with our clinical team or see your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Is the Primary.Medical HPV screening kit considered a Pap test?

No, this screening kit is not considered a pap test. A pap test, or pap smear, is a medical procedure where a provider takes a sample of cells from the cervix, the narrow opening from the vagina into the uterus. A pap test must be done in a clinic by an appropriate medical provider. While a pap test and HPV test both check for cervical cancer, they are two different tests.

Have more questions?

Contact us at support@primary.health

At-home test kit video tutorial

How to use your HPV screening kit

Vaginal swab test kit video

Instructions

Follow these instructions to learn more about our product:

Clinical Leadership

Prior to joining Primary.Health as a Medical Director Consultant, Aditya Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH has been at Fenway Health since 2014, first as a Primary Care Physician and as a Lead Physician since 2016. Dr. Chandrasekhar earned his MD from Grant Medical College in Mumbai, India and his MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Chandrasekhar completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is a Linde Fellow in Primary Care Leadership at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chandrasekhar’s areas of clinical interest include LGBTQIA+ health and HIV care.
Aditya Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH, FACP

Medical Director

Full Bio
Rafid Fadul, MD, MBA is a physician and health tech executive who is passionate about leveraging technology for the benefit of the masses. He is triple board certified (internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care). He completed his medicine training at Georgetown University while doing his MBA at Johns Hopkins, followed by training in pulmonary/critical care at the Cleveland Clinic. He has published extensively in clinical medicine, health economics, and digital health, and has presented nationally and internationally on the same. Dr. Fadul also serves on the Board of Directors for MedWish International and leads medical missions overseas.
Rafid Fadul, MD, MBA

Primary.Health Medical CEO and Clinical Advisor

Full Bio
Katie Kowals is a highly experienced multi-state Registered Nurse with over a decade of expertise in Emergency Room medicine and trauma services. With a deep passion for leveraging innovation and technology to provide high-quality healthcare to all, Katie transitioned from the bedside to become a pioneer in tele-health nursing. Drawing on her extensive background in Emergency medicine and community health, Katie brings a wide range of skills to the tele-health space, including patient acuity prioritization, STI testing and counseling, women’s health, and above all, patient safety practices. Through her work, Katie is committed to expanding access to healthcare and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.
Katie Kowals, RN, BSN

Registered Nurse

Full Bio
FAQ

General Questions

Testing

When will my test kit arrive?

You should expect to receive your test kit within 1-5 business days. Once your package has shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with tracking information.

When will I get my results?

Once we receive your samples, the laboratory will test them and you will receive your results within 5 days. You can access your results online through our secure portal using the Prmary.Health app or the Primary.Health website.

What happens if I test positive?

If you test positive and notify us that you would like to receive a call back from our clinical team, you will receive your call after your results come in. However, if you have not selected to receive a call, you will receive your results via the selected method of contact. At that time, our clinical team will review next steps for treatment.

Can I get a refund for any reason?

We cannot provide a refund after the test kit has shipped. If you have additional questions, please contact us at support@primary.health.

Can I cancel my order?

If your kit has already shipped, we unfortunately cannot cancel your order. If you need additional help, please contact support@primary.health.

I entered the wrong shipping information. What should I do?

If you made a mistake and entered the wrong contact information, please contact support@primary.health.

I didn’t receive my kit. What should I do?

If you did not receive your test kit, please support@primary.health.

I received the wrong kit. What should I do?

If you did not receive your test kit, please support@primary.health.

When should I take the test and return it?

You should take the test and mail it back as soon as you get it. If you are collecting a sample using a vaginal swab or are doing a FIT (fecal immunochemical test) and are on your period, please wait until your period is over before collecting a sample.

Can someone else order a test for me?

The test results will be connected to the account that you create to receive a test kit. So if someone else orders the kit for you and puts their name on the account, and then you take the test, your test results will be connected to their name. We can only communicate with the person whose name is connected to the account.

If you are an authorized representative of someone and are ordering a kit for the person you represent, please contact us at support@primary.health.

I made a mistake getting a sample for my test. Can I get a new test?

Please contact us at support@primary.health if you have questions about your test kit.

How is my privacy protected?

Primary’s platform is HITRUST-certified and HIPAA-compliant, meaning that the platform meets the highest security standards for your data.

Can I get a pregnancy test through Primary.Medical?

At this time you cannot get a pregnancy test through Primary.Medical. Note that the at-home test kits do not test for pregnancy.

Even though we are not offering pregnancy tests at this time, at-home pregnancy tests, also known as over-the-counter pregnancy tests, are an easy and accurate way to find out if you’re pregnant. They are just as effective as getting a pregnancy test in a clinic.

Clinical follow-up

Does my primary care provider need to give the clinical team any of my medical information?

No, your primary care provider does not need to give the clinical team any information. The clinical team will ask you questions about your medical history.

I use a different name than my government name. Do I need to give my government name to get a test or to schedule with the clinical team?

If you use a different name than your government name, please let us know. We will need to verify your identity with your government name so you can consent for treatment.

Can the clinical team send my positive test results to my primary health provider (PCP)?

The clinical team cannot send positive test results to your PCP, but you may show your results to your PCP.

Insurance

Does Primary.Medical accept insurance?

At this time, Primary.Medical does not accept insurance for at-home tests. You must pay the full price of the test. Primary.Medical will not bill your insurance for the test.

Can I submit a bill to my insurance for reimbursement?

Check with your insurance and ask them about reimbursement for self-pay services.