Teal Health is proud to share new peer-reviewed findings from our SELF-CERV pivotal trial, published this month in Cancer Control, titled “Addressing Cervical Cancer Screening Disparities: At-Home Self-Collection Among LGBQ+ Populations.” The study shows that the Teal Wand™ — the first FDA-authorized at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening — works just as accurately for LGBQ+ patients as clinician-collected samples, and is meaningfully preferred by a population that has long been underserved by traditional, clinic-based screening.

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The disparity we set out to address

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in existence — but more than 20 million people in the U.S. are currently behind on their screening. That gap isn't evenly distributed. People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another sexual minority (LGBQ+) are roughly 50% less likely to be up to date on routine cervical cancer screening than their heterosexual peers. The reasons are well-documented and deeply human: access barriers, histories of sexual trauma, gender dysphoria associated with the speculum exam, and bias from healthcare providers. The result is delayed diagnosis and higher rates of cervical dysplasia and cancer in a community that deserves better.

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What we studied

SELF-CERV is the largest U.S. clinical trial of at-home cervical cancer self-collection. Conducted across 16 clinical sites nationwide, it enrolled 609 participants — including 74 who identified as LGBQ+. The study compared the Teal Wand against the current standard of care: clinician-collected samples obtained with a speculum and cervical brush. Both samples were tested for high-risk HPV using the FDA-approved Roche cobas® assay. Participants also completed surveys on prior screening experiences, usability, and preferences.

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What we found

The data tell a clear story:

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• Clinical accuracy holds up. Agreement between self-collected and clinician-collected samples was comparable for LGBQ+ participants — meaning at-home collection delivers the same clinical performance as the in-clinic standard, with no safety concerns.
• The disparity is real and measurable. LGBQ+ participants were more likely than heterosexual participants to have delayed or avoided cervical cancer screening, reported lower engagement with preventive care overall, and described prior speculum-based exams as more painful, uncomfortable, and aversive.
• Self-collection changes the experience. LGBQ+ participants who used the Teal Wand reported greater comfort, a stronger sense of control and empowerment, and a clear preference for at-home screening over clinic-based exams.
• Privacy matters. Qualitative comments from participants highlighted reduced distress around trauma- and dysphoria-related concerns — issues that traditional screening can amplify rather than address.
• The device works for everyone. Across all groups, the Teal Wand was rated as easy to use and acceptable, demonstrating that a thoughtfully designed at-home option doesn't require trade-offs between equity and clinical rigor.

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Why it matters

Cervical cancer is preventable when people get screened on schedule. But "on schedule" depends on whether the screening method actually works for the person being screened. For LGBQ+ patients, the standard speculum-based exam has too often been a barrier rather than a bridge to care. This study provides direct, peer-reviewed evidence that an FDA-authorized at-home option — paired with telehealth support — is not only clinically valid but is the option many LGBQ+ patients have been waiting for. Broader adoption has the potential to meaningfully reduce a long-standing, well-documented health disparity.

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Teal Health's role

Teal Health developed the Teal Wand™ to make cervical cancer screening accessible, comfortable, and accurate for every person who needs it — including those whom the existing system has historically failed. This research is the latest addition to a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence supporting the Teal Wand, alongside our pivotal SELF-CERV results published in JAMA Network Open and our sub-analysis on screening among women with higher BMI published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Together, these studies establish the Teal Wand as both clinically equivalent to clinician-collected screening and uniquely suited to closing screening gaps for the populations who need a better option most.

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We built Teal because cervical cancer prevention should never depend on whether the standard tools were designed with you in mind. This study is one more piece of evidence that, with the right tools, they can be.

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McNicholas C, Memmel L, Kaplan C, et al. Addressing Cervical Cancer Screening Disparities: At-Home Self-Collection Among LGBQ+ Populations. Cancer Control. 2026;33:10732748261448263. DOI: 10.1177/10732748261448263

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