Qvintip Frequently Asked Questions

What is Qvintip?
Who should be tested?
Who shouldn't take a test?
What are the benefits of self-sampling?
How do I know if I've taken the test correctly?
What happens if my test results are normal?
What happens if my test shows signs of HPV infection?
Treatments for Cell Changes
How often should I self-sample?
References

What is Qvintip?

Qvintip is a self-sampling kit including analysis for high-risk HPV. The home self-sampling kit has a plastic wand, a small plastic sample tube, a response envelope and instructions. The wand is used to collect a small sample of vaginal secretion. The tip of the wand then goes in the sample tube and is sent in to our lab. An analysis identifies the incidence of high-risk HPV and test results are returned to users' homes by mail. Please refer to the self-sampling instructions for more detail. Qvintip is CE marked and is registered with the Swedish Medical Products Agency as a class 1 medical device.

Qvintip self-sampling wand

The Qvintip pack includes a plastic self-sampling wand, a small plastic sample tube, a response envelope and simple instructions. Self-sampling takes just a few minutes.

Who should be tested?

Women aged 30 or above that want to be active about monitoring their health and ensure they don't get cervical cancer should take the test. Testing for high-risk HPV is especially important for women that do not have regular smear tests − 65% of cervical cancer sufferers have not had a smear test.

Women aged above 60, who are no longer covered by smear test programs, will also benefit from HPV self-sampling at home.

Even if you have regular pap smears, HPV tests offer extra security − 25% of the women that get cervical cancer each year had normal results in their most recent smear test (reference 1). Smear tests aren't as sensitive as HPV tests.

HPV testing is more important the older you get. Women that are HPV positive in middle age are often carrying long-lasting infections, which may have caused cell damage.

Who shouldn't take a test?

If you're under 30, you shouldn't take an HPV test. At this age, any HPV infection is probably transient and there's no increased risk of getting cervical cancer.

What are the benefits of self-sampling?

The greatest benefit is knowing whether or not you've got a high-risk HPV infection. It's also easy and convenient − you can self-sample in the comfort of your own home, when it suits you, without having to undergo a gynaecological examination (reference 2).

How do I know if I've taken the test correctly?

If you follow the simple instructions provided in the Qvintip pack, you can be sure you've sampled correctly. This type of home test has been performed by thousands of women who have all self-sampled successfully (reference 3). You're always welcome to contact us if you've got any questions about it.

What happens if my test results are normal?

If the results are normal and the test shows no high-risk HPV then there's no need for any short-term follow-up. But it's important to take a test regularly because the virus spreads through sexual contact.

What happens if my test shows signs of HPV infection?

Firstly, it's important to remember that infection with high-risk HPV does not mean you already have cell changes or cervical cancer. Most infections clear up spontaneously as a result of our immune defenses. If the test shows that you have an HPV infection, we recommend that you contact your gynaecologist.

The gynaecologist is most likely to do a colposcopy, which literally, takes a closer look at the cervix. A colposcopy examines the cervix through a microscope, checking for any abnormalities. If anything suspicious is identified, the gynaecologist can take a biopsy − a small piece of tissue − and send it to a lab for analysis.

Treatments for Cell Changes

There are different methods for treating cell changes, all based on removing the changed cells. One common procedure is called conisation, which is the removal of a small conical portion of the cervix. It is an out-patient procedure performed under local anaesthetic. Patients go home straight afterwards.

How often should I self-sample?

If your HPV test was negative, i.e. with no HPV virus found, the risk for cervical cancer is neglible. However, new infections can occur after new sexual contact and it's important to detect them as early as possible. Studies have shown HPV tests should be performed at least every 5 years, more often if you are genetically exposed or have other diseases which may influence cancer development.

References

Andrae B. Et al. Screening − Preventable Cervical Cancer Risks: Evidence from a Nationwide Audit in Sweden; Journal of the National Cancer Institute; May 2008.
Sanner K, et. al. Self-sampling of the vaginal fluid at home combined with high-risk HPV testing, Br J Cancer 2009;101:871-874.
Petignat P. Et al. Are self-collected samples comparable to physician-collected cervical specimens for human papillomavirus DNA tesing? A systematic review and meta analysis. Gynecol oncol 2007 Dec; 107(3):595-6.

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