For the first time, the FDA has approved a device that allows screening for cervical cancer from home.
From Teal Teal Health, known as The Teal Wand, a prescription device allows patients to self-collect samples, mail them to the lab, and take the same tests they take at the doctor’s office.
Teal Health announced a $10 million seed extension in January, bringing its total funding to $23 million. Investors in the round include Serena Ventures, Chelsea Clinton, Emerson Collective, and Forerunner. The device seeks to take advantage of the fact that getting screening for cervical cancer, also known as PAP smear acquisition, can be extremely intimidating for many people.
“Cervical cancer screening is the most important and is often the gateway to women’s health relationships,” co-founder and CEO Kara Egan told TechCrunch in January. “At present, more than one in four people are behind this life-saving screening.”
Cervical cancer was once one of the most common cancers for women, but according to the American Cancer Society, screening and prevention helped to reduce more. The Wand Kit includes collection devices and virtual access to healthcare providers that check patient and lab results. The kit will be available in June, starting in California.