Rahma S. Mkuu, Ph.D., answers questions about the first device approved by the FDA for cervical cancer screening. The device from the company Teal Health has an accuracy for detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) that equals tests conducted in a medical office. Nearly all cervical cancers are related to HPV, and women positive for HPV may need a follow-up Pap smear to detect abnormal cells.
The publication Managed Healthcare Executive interviewed Mkuu in May for the article “FDA Approves First At-Home Cervical Cancer Screening Device.” Mkuu is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
The device is only available in California in June, and interested customers can join a waiting list on the website of Teal Health.