Bye Bye, Pap Test?

The FDA recently approved the first human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test as a standalone option for primary cervical cancer screening in women aged 25 and older. The test (which was approved in 2011 as a cotest with cervical cytology) identifies HPV-16 and HPV-18 as well as a dozen other high-risk HPV types. The FDA notes that women who test positive for HPV-16 or 18 should have a colposcopy, and those who test positive for any other high-risk HPV type should have a Pap test to determine whether colposcopy is warranted.