Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable cancers.1 Yet thousands of cervical cancer cases occur each year, largely due to missed or delayed human papillomavirus (HPV) screening2 as recommended for all women, ages 30 to 65. As the landscape of cervical cancer prevention evolves, self-collect HPV testing is emerging as an additional clinically validated, patient-centered approach that can increase screening participation without compromising accuracy.
Understanding how to integrate self-collection in practice—and when to recommend it to patients—can play a pivotal role in improving early detection and advancing equitable care.
In this article:
Clinical challenge | Why it matters | Ordering recommendations | Interpreting test results | Next steps | Supporting resources
HPV is widely known to cause most cervical cancers. Particularly, HPV 16 and HPV 18—both high-risk types—cause as much as 70% of cervical cancers.3 However, many eligible patients remain unscreened or underscreened for cervical cancer due to barriers such as lack of access, discomfort with pelvic exams and speculum-based specimen collection, prior physical trauma, cultural concerns, disability, and time constraints.
Two categories of cervical cancer screenings are supported by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG),6 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF),7 and American Cancer Society.8
While co-testing for HPV during Pap exams or primary HPV screening through physician collection are adequate testing methods, self-collection for high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing offers another practical, evidence-based way to reduce the care gaps without compromising diagnostic performance when validated assays are used.
In 2024, the FDA expanded the indications for use (IFUs) on lab-based hrHPV assays to allow patients to self-collect a vaginal swab in a clinical setting.9
The USPSTF found that self-collect HPV testing is linked to increased cervical cancer screening rates in historically underscreened populations.7 Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that self-collection could enable proper screening coverage in up to 70% of women by 2030.10
Adding self-collect HPV testing into cervical cancer screening protocol of a practice opens up the potential to empower more women to get tested, and in turn, help save lives.
The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) 2025 practice recommendations emphasize that self-collection in a controlled health setting is on-label for FDA-authorized assays and provide risk-based management pathways.11
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2024 draft statement also recognizes patient-collection in health settings as an option for ages 30 to 65 within 5-year primary HPV strategies.7
Quest Diagnostics offers an option for patients to discreetly self-collect a specimen using a vaginal swab in a medical setting. According to the USPSTF, data on outcomes for patients screened with self-collected samples is comparable to outcomes on clinician-collected samples.7
The HPV vaginal self-collected screening targets E6/E7 DNA to help identify the presence and activity of HPV 16 and HPV 18 and other hrHPV infection types.12
Providers can reference the following testing pathways chart as a tool to incorporate self-collect HPV screenings into their cervical cancer screening workflow.
Patient self-collect screenings provide a discreet option and can help increase compliance among traditionally underserved populations, including
Integrating HPV self-collection into primary care settings can be achieved efficiently with thoughtful workflow adjustments. Once a practice obtains collection kits and instructions from Quest and staff are trained to verify correct swab use and tube labeling, steps typically include
In any of the following circumstances, providers can recommend clinician-collected HPV testing instead:
Beyond self-collection, several other HPV tests are clinically validated and FDA-approved to provide individual detection of HPV 16 and HPV 18 strains, as well as other high-risk HPV types.13 Co-testing Pap and HPV together is endorsed by ACOG, USPSTF, and ASCCP as a Grade A-level cervical cancer screening option in women ages 30 to 65,6,7,11 as they can help detect more cases of cancer and precancer than either test on its own.
Quest’s comprehensive cervical cancer test portfolio provides healthcare professionals with the flexibility to tailor their approach to meet the diverse needs of their patients.
Test code: 90887
CPT code: 87624*
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87491*, 87591*
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87491*, 87591*, 87661
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*, 87491*, 87591*
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*, 87491*, 87591*, 87661
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*, 87491*, 87591*
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT code: 88142 (HCPCS: G0123)
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CPT code: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145)
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CPT code: 88142 (HCPCS: G0123)
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CPT code(s): 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87491*, 87591*
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CPT code(s): 87491, 87591, 88142* (HCPCS: G0123)
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CPT codes: 88175* (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*
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CPT codes: 87624*, 88142* (HCPCS: G0123)
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CPT codes: 88175 (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*, 87491*, 87591*
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CPT codes: 87491, 87591, 87624, 88142* (HCPCS: G1023)
Test code: 18829
CPT codes: 88175* (HCPCS: G0145), 87624*
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CPT codes: 87624, 88142 (HCPCS: G0123)
* CPT code is subject to a Medicare Limited Coverage Policy and may require a signed ABN when ordering.
Reference the following results guidelines as self-collect HPV testing is embedded into cervical cancer screening protocols.
HPV is not present and patient is at very low short-term risk for cervical cancer and does not require immediate follow-up testing.
HPV is present and patient is at high risk for cervical cancer. Ensure swift care coordination by referring them directly to colposcopy for further examination and diagnosis.
HPV is present but not linked to the types most associated with cervical cancer. Perform reflex triage with clinician-collected cytology or dual-stain based on availability to see if any cell changes are present. Results then guide whether to proceed to colposcopy or to repeat testing within a year.
Repeat sample via self-collection or clinician-collection; ensure correct technique and adequate dwell time of the swab and proper transport medium.
For patients with no HPV diagnosis, return to routine 5-year screening interval as recommended by the ACOG,6 USPSTF,14 and American Cancer Society,8 unless other risk factors/clinical indications dictate retesting sooner.
When hrHPV is present but follow-up testing has not resulted in a cervical cancer diagnosis, primary care providers can initiate a surveillance plan of annual HPV screenings.
If hrHPV is present and follow-up testing yields a diagnosis of cervical cancer, initiate a timely referral to gynecologic oncology and maintain coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
Reach out to receive additional information on Quest’s women’s health lab tests, services, and coverage.
References
1. World Health Organization. Cervical cancer. Published December 2, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer
2. Benard VB, Jackson JE, Greek A, et al. A population study of screening history and diagnostic outcomes of women with invasive cervical cancer. Cancer Med. 2021;10(12):4127-4137. doi:10.1002/cam4.3951
3. NIH. Cervical cancer causes, risk factors, and prevention. Published August 2, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65901/
4. Sabatino SA, Thompson TD, White MC, et al. Up-to-date breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening test use in the US, 2021. Prev Chronic Dis. 2023;20:230071. doi:10.5888/pcd20.230071
5. NIH. Cervical trends progress report. Cervical cancer screening. Updated April 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://progressreport.cancer.gov/detection/cervical_cancer
6. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Updated cervical cancer screening guidelines. Updated April 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2021/04/updated-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines
7. US Preventive Services Task Force. Cervical cancer: Screening. Published December 10, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/cervical-cancer-screening-adults-adolescents#fullrecommendationstart
8. American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society guideline for cervical cancer screening. Updated December 4, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html
9. US Food & Drug Administration. FDA Roundup: May 17, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-roundup-may-17-2024
10. World Health Organization. Self-care interventions: human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling as part of cervical cancer screening and treatment, 2022 update. Published April 17, 2023. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-SRH-23.1
11. Wentzensen N, Massad LS, Clarke MA, et al. Self-collected vaginal specimens for HPV testing: Recommendations from the Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2025 Apr 1;29(2):144-152. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000885
12. Hologic. Aptima® HPV Assay. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://hologicwomenshealth.com/products/aptimahpvassay/
13. Roche Diagnostics. cobas® HPV. Accessed December 11, 2025. https://diagnostics.roche.com/global/en/products/lab/cobas-hpv-5800-6800-8800-pid00000297.html
14. Marcus J, Cason P, Downs L, et al. The ASCCP Cervical Cancer Screening Task Force endorsement and opinion on the American Cancer Society updated cervical cancer screening guidelines. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 25(3):187-191, July 2021. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000614
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