Women in the UK are being offered a “do-it-at-home” smear test as part of an NHS trial.
Around 31,000 women aged between 25 and 64 in the London areas of Barnet, Camden, Islington, Newham and Tower Hamlets who are overdue their smear test will be offered the kit.
The BBC reports that the kit can be given to the women at their GP or in the post.
Smear tests check for early warning signs of cervical cancer.
The DIY home-testing kits are hoped to be able to encourage more women to get screened, claim experts.
Obstacles such as embarrassment, Covid concerns and cultural barriers can prevent women from attending smear appointments at clinics or GP surgeries.
The scheme was prompted by cervical cancer charities after the pandemic caused delays to smear testing.
Self-sampling in this manner is already available in Denmark and Australia.
The home-testing involves a long, thin cotton bud which swabs the inside of the vagina before being posted to the lab.
The swab checks for the presence of HPV infection (human papillomavirus) which can cause cervical cells to change which can develop into cancer.
If the results of the home test kit show the presence of HPV then women will be invited to their GP for a standard smear test to more closely look at the cells of the cervix.
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Dr Anita Lim, from King's College, who is leading the YouScreen trial, said: "Women who don't come for regular screening are at the highest risk of developing cervical cancer.
"So it is crucial that we find ways like this to make screening easier and protect women from what is a largely preventable cancer.
"Self-sampling is a game-changer.
"This simple and convenient swab means it can be done in the privacy and comfort of your own home."
National clinical director for cancer for the NHS in England, Prof Peter Johnson, said: "GPs have taken extra precautions to make surgeries safe.
"And these home kits give thousands of women another option to keep up to date with their screening."
The NHS told GPs not to stop smear tests during the pandemic, but patients have experiences cancellations and long waiting times.
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