About Our HPV Test

Purpose of the test

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. According to the CDC, nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. The HPV test looks for high-risk strains of the virus in cervical or vaginal cells before any cancer develops. Finding a high-risk infection early gives you and your provider a chance to monitor cell changes and treat them before they turn cancerous.

The test is used in three main ways: routine cervical cancer screening for people with a cervix, follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear, and treatment planning for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the middle throat and tonsils).

HPV can also cause cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, and vulva, as described by the National Cancer Institute. But routine HPV testing on those sites isn’t standard practice in the U.S. This test doesn’t detect low-risk HPV strains (the types that cause genital warts), and it doesn’t screen for other STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea. For convenience, at-home HPV testing is also available.

What does our HPV test measure?

Labs detect HPV by looking for the virus’s genetic material in your cell sample. There are over 200 known HPV strains. This test focuses on 14 high-risk types linked to cancer.

HPV DNA testing: The lab tests your cells for the presence of HPV DNA. Results come back as detected or not detected. If HPV is found, genotyping identifies the specific strain.
HPV RNA testing: The lab looks for RNA produced by active HPV infections instead of DNA. RNA testing is more specific, which means fewer false positives and less unnecessary follow-up.
Cellular marker detection (p16/Ki-67): This slide-staining method detects two proteins from infected HPV cells. The p16 marker is a protein that increases when HPV is present. Ki-67 measures how fast cancer cells may be dividing. An elevated Ki-67 suggests that there is a more aggressive tumor. It doesn’t look for genetic material at all. It’s used in some follow-up scenarios.

HPV 16 and HPV 18 are listed separately in your results because they carry the highest cancer risk. The National Cancer Institute notes that together they cause about 66% of cervical cancers. The other 12 high-risk types (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68) are reported as a combined result.

Self-collected vaginal swabs are as accurate as clinician-collected samples when you follow the instructions.

When should I get an HPV test?

Consider testing if any of these apply:

An abnormal Pap smear result that needs follow-up
No cervical cancer screening in the past three to five years
A new oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis that requires treatment planning
A weakened immune system, including HIV
A history of abnormal Pap smears or prior HPV infection
Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth

For routine screening, the American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screening for anyone with a cervix between ages 25 to 65:

Ages 25 to 65: HPV primary testing alone on a clinician-collected cervical sample every five years (preferred)
Ages 25 to 65: HPV primary testing alone on a self-collected vaginal sample every three years (acceptable)
Ages 25 to 65: Co-testing (HPV plus Pap smear) every five years (acceptable)
Ages 25 to 65: Pap smear alone every three years (acceptable if HPV testing isn’t available)
Under 25: Routine HPV screening isn’t recommended; most infections at this age clear on their own
Over 65: Screening may stop if you have had negative primary HPV tests or negative co-tests at both ages 60 and 65, or three consecutive negative cytology results, and no high-risk history

How It Works

How to get tested

You can order this test through Testing.com without seeing a provider first. We connect you with CLIA-certified labs, including LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics. After you order, visit a nearby patient service center where staff give you a sealed swab kit. Collect the sample yourself in a private area, seal it, and hand it back. Results are securely submitted to your personal online account, and an email is sent to let you know when they’re ready.

You can compare tests by cost, turnaround time, and privacy before ordering.

HPV is included in our at-home STD test, which screens for HPV and several other sexually transmitted infections from a self-collected sample you mail in from home.

A provider’s office or clinic can also order this test. If a provider ordered it, the test results go through their system, and timing may vary in when those results are available.

Before the test

No fasting required. But a few things can interfere with sample quality, so plan ahead.

For two days before your appointment, avoid sexual intercourse, gynecological exams, and ultrasound scans. For three days before, skip vaginal creams, ovules, washes, and vaginal contraceptives or condoms. These products can disrupt the cells that need to be analyzed.

Don’t collect during your period. Wait until it ends. Don’t collect if you’re pregnant or within three months of giving birth. Pregnancy changes cervical cell characteristics, and self-collection hasn’t been validated in this population.

If you’ve had recent gynecological surgery or have unusual bleeding or pelvic pain, talk with your provider before ordering.

During the test

A healthcare provider must order an HPV test. It may be self-collected at home or at a patient service center. For a self-collected sample, follow the printed instructions carefully. Insert the swab about 5 centimeters into the vaginal canal, rotate it gently for 10 to 30 seconds, then withdraw it and seal it in the collection tube. The whole process takes a few minutes.

Return the sealed tube to the laboratory by mail or give it to the patient service staff. Ensure the specimen is properly labeled as directed if performing the collection at home. No blood draw. No speculum. No exam table.

You might feel mild discomfort during collection. That’s normal. If you feel sharp pain or notice unusual bleeding afterward, let the staff know before you leave.

After the test

Results are ready two to four business days after the lab receives your sample. Through Testing.com, they appear in your secure online account. You’ll get an email when they’re posted. If a provider’s office ordered the test, timing depends on their system.

What do my results mean?

If your results are negative

No high-risk HPV DNA was found in your sample. None of the 14 high-risk strains were detected at the time of collection.

HPV can take weeks to months to reach detectable levels after a new exposure. As the National Library of Medicine explains, most HPV infections clear on their own within one to two years without ever showing up on a test. A negative result doesn’t mean you’ve never had HPV. It means no high-risk HPV was present when you tested.

If you had a known exposure recently, talk with your provider about whether retesting makes sense. The American Cancer Society recommends rescreening every five years after a negative clinician-collected HPV result, or every three years after a negative self-collected HPV result.

If your results are positive

A positive HPV test doesn’t mean you have cancer. It means one or more high-risk HPV strains were found in your cells. Most HPV infections clear on their own. What happens next depends on which strains were detected.

HPV 16 or HPV 18 detected: these two strains carry the highest cancer risk. Your provider will likely recommend a colposcopy (a close-up exam of the cervix with a magnifying instrument) to look for abnormal cell changes. A biopsy may follow.

Other high-risk types detected: your provider reviews your full history, including prior Pap smear results, to decide whether a colposcopy is needed now or whether closer monitoring is the right approach. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force supports follow-up colposcopy for persistent high-risk HPV findings as part of its cervical cancer screening guidance.

A positive result after previous negatives usually means a new infection. Most new infections clear within six to 12 months. A persistent positive (two positive results at least 12 months apart) raises the risk of lasting cell changes and needs closer follow-up.

FAQs

Is there an HPV test for men or people without a cervix?

No. There’s no clinically validated HPV screening test for people who don’t have a cervix. HPV causes detectable cell changes in cervical tissue, and no equivalent validated sampling site exists for penile or scrotal tissue. People of any anatomy can carry and transmit HPV, but the standard test isn’t designed for them. There is no blood, urine, or swab test available to detect HPV in men. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men at higher risk may ask their provider about an anal Pap test for anal cancer screening and should also consider a Syphilis Test as part of routine STI screening.

Does HPV show up in a blood test?

No. HPV lives in epithelial tissue (the cells lining your skin and mucous membranes), not in the bloodstream. A blood draw won’t detect an active HPV infection. The only validated methods use cell samples from the vagina or cervix.

What's the difference between an HPV test and a Pap smear?

They’re related but not the same. A Pap smear looks for abnormal cervical cells that may have already changed. An HPV test looks for the virus that causes those changes. You can have a positive HPV test with a normal Pap, which means the virus is present but hasn’t caused cell changes yet. Co-testing uses both at the same time.

Do I still need HPV screening if I've been vaccinated?

Yes. The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) covers nine HPV types, including the highest-risk strains 16 and 18. It is the only vaccine available in the U.S. and doesn’t protect against all 14 high-risk types on screening panels. Vaccinated people should still follow the same cervical cancer screening schedule.

Can I test for HPV at home with vinegar?

No. The acetic acid (vinegar) whitening method is sometimes used in low-resource clinical settings as a diagnostic, visual inspection tool. It has been used as a home remedy for warts, causing HPV-infected cells to turn white. It is not completely reliable and may cause skin irritation, thus not validated for home use and doesn’t detect HPV DNA. It can’t tell you whether you have a high-risk infection. Use a clinically validated swab test instead.

What does it mean to have an abnormal Pap smear but a negative HPV result?

Your cervical cells showed some changes, but none of the 14 high-risk HPV strains were detected. This combination is common and often low-risk. Abnormal Pap smears are reviewed by a physician specialist (Cytopathologist) who will look at the type of cell change(s) on the Pap smear and report back to your provider. Along with your screening history, your provider will decide whether to retest sooner or continue routine screening.

Can I get tested for HPV while pregnant?

Self-collection isn’t recommended during pregnancy or in the three months after giving birth. If you’re pregnant and due for cervical cancer screening, talk with your provider. Clinician-collected testing may be an option depending on your situation and screening history.