FDA greenlights the first and only at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening

Let's face it — Pap smears are no one's idea of a good time. But now, the tide's turning. With FDA approval in its back pocket, Teal Health has launched the Teal Wand — a first-of-its-kind, at-home cervical cancer screening device that lets women collect their own samples without stepping foot in a doctor's office. No stirrups. No speculum. No awkward gown. Just you, your home, and a tool that could help save your life.

CEO and co-founder Kara Egan puts it simply: "It's about finally giving women an option that makes sense for their lives." It's a game-changer, not just because it's more comfortable — but because it might be the very thing that gets overdue screenings back on track.

How does it work?

Think of it like this: instead of making an appointment, missing work, or dealing with the dreaded table, you order a kit, use the Teal Wand to collect a vaginal sample at home, pop it in the mail, and send it off to a certified lab. From there:

• The sample is tested for HPV using the same cobas test labs use in clinics.
• A telehealth provider prescribes the kit, reviews the results, and supports you through next steps.
• The device is prescription-based and intended for women aged 25-65 who are at average risk.

It's the same science-backed test, just done on your turf — your couch, your bathroom, your terms.

Why does it matter?

Here's the harsh truth: cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable with regular screening, but more than 1 in 4 women in the U.S. are falling behind. Whether it's a packed schedule, anxiety, or discomfort that's keeping women from getting screened, Teal Health offers a compassionate alternative.

And the results speak volumes:

• The SELF-CERV study — largest of its kind in the U.S. — found self-collected samples detected cervical precancer 96% of the time.
• 94% of participants preferred using the Teal Wand at home.
• 86% said they'd be more likely to stay up to date with screening if home testing were available.

As Dr. Christine Conageski, one of the study's principal investigators, noted: "Screening rates in the U.S. continue to lag... This is a critical step forward."

The context

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has already flagged at-home screening as a top priority. The FDA even designated the Teal Wand a Breakthrough Device, fast-tracking its review. Now, with approval in hand, Teal Health is rolling out kits in June, starting in California and scaling nationwide.

They're also tackling barriers beyond biology:

• Working with insurance companies to cover costs.
• Offering flexible payment options.
• Centering underserved communities in their clinical trials.

Trena Depel, Teal's VP of Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality, says it best: "This isn't just a win for Teal — it's a win for every woman who deserves a rigorously tested and FDA-reviewed at-home cervical cancer screening option."

Put simply, the Teal Wand represents a quiet revolution, built with empathy, shaped by science, and rooted in the everyday reality of women's lives.