20 Mar 2021

Anita Lim: DIY at-home smear tests

From Saturday Morning, 8:35 am on 20 March 2021
Anita Lim

Anita Lim Photo: supplied

Kiwi epidemiologist, Dr Anita Lim is the driving force behind a National Health Service study of do-it-at-home HpV virus swab tests in London.

She's targeting areas where up to 50% women are not turning up for conventional cervical cancer screening smear tests.

She describes the move as a potential 'gamechanger' for women.

Here in New Zealand a trial of home-screening among Māori women found that self-testing could potentially halve the number who seldom or never get screened, sparking calls for the government to implement a self-test screening programme.