The Quick Read
- Cervical cancer is nearly 100% preventable, yet rates are rising for women ages 30–44, which makes closing the screening gap urgent.
- Teal Health is now available in all 50 states, enabling an FDA-authorized, clinically accurate at-home screening option that fits into real schedules and removes common barriers like time off, childcare, and speculum exams.
- Alongside national expansion, Teal is launching a January PSA with partners to reduce confusion around screening terminology with a clear message: “HPV test, Pap smear, cervical cancer screening. However you say it, just don’t delay it.”
There is a persistent paradox in American women’s health. We have the vaccines and the diagnostic technology to make cervical cancer a historical footnote, yet it remains a present-day reality. Despite being nearly 100% preventable, cervical cancer rates are increasing among women aged 30 to 44.
For decades, the screening experience remained largely unchanged, until now.
Today, we are proud to announce that Teal Health’s at-home screening and telehealth platform are now available across all 50 states.
This national expansion means that a clinically accurate, FDA-authorized cervical cancer screening can finally be completed entirely on a woman's own schedule, regardless of where she lives. By moving the initial screen to a self-collected, at-home model, we are removing the friction- such as childcare, time off work, and speculum exams—that has kept women underscreened for years.
A look back at our journey thus far
Reaching all 50 states wasn't an overnight achievement; it is the culmination of a monumental 2025. Last year was dedicated to cementing our clinical foundation and evolving the standard of care so that we could deliver this solution to you today.
In 2025, we achieved several historic milestones that made this national rollout possible:
- FDA Authorization: On May 9, 2025, the Teal Wand became the first and only self-collection device authorized for at-home cervical cancer screening.
- Clinical Validation: Our results, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that the Teal Wand detected cervical precancer 96% of the time, equal to clinician-collected samples. Perhaps most importantly, 94% of participants preferred our self-collection method.
- New Guidelines: In December, the American Cancer Society and in January HRSA updated their guidelines to specify that primary hrHPV screening is the preferred screening method, and both recommend patient-collected as a screening option for average-risk women, with most private plans required to cover the screening and any necessary follow-up beginning January 1, 2027.
Our work was even recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of 2025 and by Fast Company for our design innovation.
Closing the Information Gap
While expanding access is critical, a complete medical system also requires clear communication. The medical community often uses confusing terminology—HPV testing, Pap smears, cytology—that leaves many women unsure of what they need.
That is why, alongside our national expansion, we are launching a unified PSA campaign with industry trailblazers including Kindbody, Wisp, Midi Health, and Maven Clinic for Cervical Cancer Awareness month this January. Our message is straightforward: HPV test, Pap smear, cervical cancer screening; however you say it, just don’t delay it.
A New Reality for 2026
We often hear about the elimination of diseases in a theoretical sense. With cervical cancer, the path is actually visible. We now have the tools, the clinical evidence, and the national footprint to close the screening gap.
If you have been putting off your screening because the traditional process did not work for you, 2026 is the year to prioritize your health. Together, we can finally close the screening gap and make the elimination of cervical cancer a reality.
