At-Home pap smear could boost cancer screening in rural areas

NCT ID NCT04093388

Recruiting now Diagnosis Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study is testing whether a self-administered Pap smear is as accurate as the traditional one done by a healthcare provider. Researchers will recruit 250 women in rural Alabama who need routine cervical cancer screening. Each woman will do a self-collected sample right before the standard Pap smear, and both samples will be compared in a blinded way. If self-collection works well, it could make screening easier and more accessible for women who avoid or cannot get to a clinic.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a convenient, private way for women to screen for cervical cancer at home, potentially increasing screening rates in underserved areas.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study (250 participants) comparing self-collection to standard collection. It may not prove self-tests are accurate enough for widespread use, and results may not apply to other populations.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cervical cancer Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CERVICAL CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cahaba Medical Care
RECRUITING

Centreville, Alabama, 35042, United States
Cahaba Medical Care - Ensley
RECRUITING

Birmingham, Alabama, 35218, United States
Cahaba Medical Care - West End
RECRUITING

Birmingham, Alabama, 35211, United States

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