FDA approves Teal Wand, at-home Pap smear alternative

The FDA has approved the Teal Wand, the first at-home alternative to in-office Pap smears, offering a new option for cervical cancer screening. The Teal Wand, designed for self-collection, showed high accuracy in clinical trials, matching in-office results in 95% of positive and 90% of negative cases. The device is expected to be HSA/FSA eligible and preferred by many women. While the at-home test is a significant advance, it may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with a history of abnormal Pap results or related cancers, who should consult their doctor.