FDA approves first human papillomavirus test for primary cervical cancer screening
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first FDA-approved HPV DNA test for women 25 and older that can be used alone to help a health care professional assess the need for a woman to undergo additional diagnostic testing for cervical cancer. The test also can provide information about the patient’s risk for developing cervical cancer in the future."
Doctors can choose to use the DNA test alone or continue to do both the DNA test and the Pap smear.