Abstract A037: Expanding access to cervical cancer screening in Philadelphia: A novel HPV self-collection program

Abstract

The purpose of our pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of same-day human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection in a community setting that aims to reduce disparities in access to cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV screening. HPV self-collection has been shown to decrease disparities in screening by overcoming financial, cultural, and logistical barriers to accessing clinician-collected HPV testing. However, optimal strategies for community-based self-collection outreach are incompletely understood. This pilot was performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through the Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania in partnership with local churches and community organizations. Individuals with a cervix ages 25-65 years who attended community health outreach events between June 2025-May 2026 were invited to participate in this IRB exempt study. Exclusion criteria were hysterectomy, immunocompromised status, pregnancy or childbirth in the past three months, and recent cervical screening or treatment. Eligible participants completed a self-administered questionnaire in REDCap assessing demographics, clinical history, and barriers to screening and received written and verbal instructions for using BD Onclarity™ self-collection kits. Individuals performed self-collection in a private bathroom before completing a post-collection questionnaire assessing their experience. Samples were genotyped and study investigators coordinated follow-up care per current guidelines. The primary outcome was feasibility of same-day HPV self-collection in a community setting. Secondary outcomes included HPV genotype results, diagnostic resolution, and individual perspectives on cervical cancer screening. A total of 22 individuals met inclusion criteria and completed HPV self-collection. The median age was 52 years (range 33-65 years), the majority identified as Black (18/22, 81.8%), over half reported seeing a primary care physician (12/22, 54.5%) and had insurance coverage (16/22, 72.7%). Distance barriers, time and financial constraints, and lack of screening awareness were reported reasons for overdue cervical screening. Seven individuals testing HPV-positive (7/22, 31.8%), including two for HPV 16/18, were contacted by study investigators and navigated to appropriate follow-up care. Over half preferred self-collection (12/22, 54.5%) versus no preference and cited convenience, privacy, and ease of use as factors when choosing an HPV collection method. This novel pilot demonstrates the feasibility of same-day community-based HPV self-collection to expand cervical cancer screening access and reduce disparities. Although our small sample size limits generalizability, future efforts will focus on scaling the initiative through partnerships with community organizations and faith-based groups. Sarah A. Phillips, Gurbani Singh, Isabella An, Eniola Okon, Sejin Lee, Emily Verderame, Carmen E. Guerra. Expanding access to cervical cancer screening in Philadelphia: A novel HPV self-collection program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 19th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2026 Oct 18-21; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2026;35(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A037.