A first of its kind HPV screening program is set to get underway in the Rio Grande Valley.

Su Clinica in Brownsville will be involved in a new pilot program aimed at improving cervical cancer screening in underserved communities through the HPV Self Collection Screening Program.

HPV can cause six types of cancer — including cervical cancer.

The clinic announced the program on Wednesday through a partnership with the MD Anderson Cancer Center

“This self-collection really allows women in the privacy of the restroom or the clinic exam just to take their own sample, and that is sent off to a lab and that can be used for cervical cancer screening," lead researcher Jane Montealegre said.

If a test comes out positive for HPV, the clinic will direct the patient to a specialist for additional screening.

Treatment can also be done at Su Clinica to help remove pre-cancerous cells.

“So women can do it without it costing a lot of money, without having to take off much time, without having to deal with all the hurdles,” Montealegre said. 

The self-collection program is only available to patients at Su Clinica. An official launch date for the program has yet to be set.

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