AT HOME HPV TESTING

You’re in charge

Our HPV test screens for the strains of HPV that potentially lead to cervical cancer. It’s quick, easy and can be done by you in the privacy of your own home.

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How it works

1

Make your request

Just answer a few health questions to get started and pay a $30 consultation fee, which includes unlimited messaging with our medical team for a year. Then our partner lab will mail you a kit in discreet packaging. We'll bill your insurance (the cost is covered by many plans) or you can pay with a credit card.

2

Do the test

Follow the simple instructions to collect your sample. Use the pre-paid label and box to send it to the lab for testing.

3

Our medical team reaches out

Once your sample is tested, our medical team will get in touch to discuss results and next steps.

What is HPV?

HPV is a very common sexually-transmitted virus. An estimated 75% of sexually active adults have had it. While there are more than 150 different strains of HPV, our home test screens for the 14 high-risk strains that potentially lead to cervical cancer.

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Be proactive, stay safe

Without testing it’s hard to tell if you have HPV. Most women don’t experience symptoms. For some, the virus clears without treatment. While with others, it persists unnoticed for years.

  • HPV is mostly symptomless and hard to detect without a test
  • The test determines your risk of cervical cancer
  • Suggested for women 25-29, recommended for women 30-65
  • Your results will be followed by a medical consultation

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About our accredited partner lab

Your Nurx home tests will be analyzed at our partner laboratory, Molecular Testing Labs™ (or MTL for short). MTL is a state-of-the-art lab that specializes in complex molecular testing and is CAP-accredited, meaning that it meets the scientifically rigorous standards of the College of American Pathologists. MTL is also CLIA-approved, achieving the US government’s standards of quality and safety under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Your personal information is always anonymized and your personal health information is protected according to HIPAA law.

Please note, if you pay with insurance, MTL will bill the cost of the lab testing to your insurance (does not include price at checkout). Any out of pocket costs after your insurance is billed will depend on whether your insurance is in-network with the lab, and your specific plan’s coverage.

What do my results mean?

Once your sample has been tested, a medical provider will reach out to discuss your results and next steps.

Negative result: The lab did not detect high-risk HPV strains, so your risk of developing cervical cancer is extremely low. No additional screening is needed for 3 years for women over 30. If you are under 30 it is still recommended that you get a pap smear every 3 years.

Positive result: This means the lab detected one or more high-risk strains of HPV. This is not a cancer diagnosis. It just means you are at a higher likelihood of getting cervical cancer. We advise following up in person with your women’s healthcare provider for routine monitoring and testing.

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Common questions

  • What is HPV?

    HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is a very common virus transmitted through sexual activity. There are over 150 different strains of HPV, and it is the high risk HPV strains that are responsible for about 70% of cases of cervical cancer.

    About 75% to 80% of sexually active adults are estimated to have had an HPV infection at some point in their lives. For most, the virus clears on its own without treatment.

    It usually takes having a persistent HPV infection for 10 or more years for pre-cancer or cancer to develop. Routine screening and follow-up is the only way to know for sure whether you have persistent HPV.

    Cervical cancer is a very slow growing disease. And if caught early is almost always treatable. However, most women do not have symptoms. Finding out whether or not you have HPV is an important step in preventing and treating cervical cancer.

  • How much does the HPV Home Test Kit cost?

    Consultation

    Anyone who requests a home HPV test will be charged a $30 consultation fee. This covers your online medical consultation by a Nurx medical provider and includes unlimited messaging about your HPV test with our medical team for one year — so you can ask questions at any time during that period. At this time, we do not submit claims to insurance for this medical consult fee.

    Home Testing Kit

    For those without health insurance, you will be charged a flat fee of $79.

    For those with health insurance, you will initially be charged $23 for the cost of shipping and the testing kit (not including the $30 consultation fee). Once your tests have been processed by our partner lab, they will bill your insurance and you will be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs (beyond the $23) including copays and deductibles associated with your plan. Your out of pocket cost also depends on whether your insurance plan is in-network or out of network with the lab (Molecular Testing Labs). To find out whether your insurance plan is in-network or out of network, please CLICK HERE.

    *BLUECROSS PATIENTS PLEASE NOTE: BlueCross has changed their policies with our partner lab and is no longer processing patient claims in a way compatible with our telehealth platform for patients to exercise in-network benefits with the at-home testing kits. We're sorry this changed happened. We are actively working towards a solution. In the meantime, claims will likely be processed as out of network and result in a $99 bill.

  • What are the symptoms of an HPV infection?

    Most of the time HPV does not cause any symptoms. However, certain HPV strains can cause genital warts, small painless growths that can grow on the vulva, penis or anus. Our home testing kit does not test for the strains that cause genital warts.

  • What is the difference between “Pap Smear” and HPV test?

    A Pap Smear requires that you go to your healthcare provider’s office and receive a speculum exam. This enables your healthcare provider to collect cells from inside of your cervix, which are then observed under a microscope by a cytologist or pathologist. Abnormal cervical cells indicate a potential for cervical cancer and require close follow up by a clinician.

    A HPV test only requires that a swab sample is collected from inside the vagina, close to but not in the cervix. The sample is screened for the high risk strains of HPV that typically cause cervical cancer.

    If high risk HPV DNA is present, a pap smear or a colposcopy is usually recommended. These tests are used to determine whether there are cervical cell changes, and if any are discovered your doctor will recommend a treatment plan.

  • How is HPV transmitted?

    HPV can be transmitted through many types of sexual activity and genital contact. It can also be spread through sharing sex toys or non-penetrative interaction, like body rubbing.

  • What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

    Often cervical cancer does not have symptoms, and many symptoms of cervical cancer can be caused by other things. If you have any unusual symptoms such as unexplained bleeding, abdominal pain or swelling, or weight loss, reach out to your Nurx medical team or your in-person healthcare provider.

  • What does the Nurx HPV Home Test Kit look for?

    The test kit screens for 14 high-risk strains of the virus: HPV16 and HPV18, which cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases – and 12 additional high risk types.

  • If I test positive for HPV do I have cervical cancer?

    No. Having a positive HPV test does not mean the person has pre-cancer or cancer. But it does mean there is potential risk, which should be monitored.

  • Can I take the home HPV test while I'm on my period?

    We recommend you wait at least 2 days after your period ends to complete your home HPV test. This is because blood from your period can interfere with the lab’s ability to detect HPV on your sample.

  • What does it mean if my results are negative or positive for high risk HPV?

    If your results are negative, this means the lab did not detect high risk HPV. Your risk of cervical cancer in the near future (next 3 years) is very low. Because of this, you likely do not need a pap smear or another HPV test for 3 years. However, if you develop unusual symptoms we would recommend you follow up with for further testing.

    If your results are positive for 1 or more of the strains of high risk HPV this means you are at increased risk for cervical cancer, and we would recommend you follow up with your local healthcare provider, gynecologist or Planned Parenthood for additional screening, including a cervical pap smear or a colposcopy.

  • Can I take the home HPV test if I have been diagnosed with cervical cancer in the past year?

    If you have a personal history of cervical cancer, this home test is not an ideal choice for you. We would recommend you have regular follow-up with an in-person healthcare provider for screening and monitoring to ensure there is not a recurrence.

  • Where will my HPV test samples be processed?

    Our partner lab will process our home HPV test samples. Our lab partners are HIPAA compliant and fully licensed CAP and CLIA-certified.

DR. BETTY ACKER, OB-GYN

Meet your medical team

We are doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physician assistants who are passionate about providing patient care. The Nurx medical team believes that everyone deserves access to personalized, non-judgmental healthcare, and that open and honest communication is key.

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Exceptional care at every step

At Nurx, we make it easy to get the expert healthcare you deserve. From schedules to health history, everybody is different—so we provide treatment and care that’s personalized to you. Through life’s cycles, changes, and transitions, we’re here to help you make informed choices about your health.

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