Oct. 27, 2026 | By Joseph Jones, Madigan Army Medical Center
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — Cervical cancer screening can save lives, but discomfort or anxiety about an exam can keep some patients from scheduling care. Madigan Army Medical Center offers eligible patients another option: collecting their own sample for human papillomavirus testing in a private setting.
Madigan became the first Defense Health Agency military hospital or clinic to offer HPV self-collection, introducing the option in March 2026. Patients collect a vaginal sample in a private space at Madigan’s pathology laboratory after their provider determines whether the test is appropriate. “We know what causes most cervical cancers, and we have the tools to detect and treat changes at a precancerous stage before they can become cancer,” said Dr. Paul Cordts, chief medical officer at the Defense Health Agency. “This makes it important to know which screenings are recommended for you and when you should get them.”
Understanding your screening options
Certain high-risk types of HPV cause almost all cervical cancers. HPV is common and often has no symptoms. Persistent infections can cause changes in cervical cells that may develop into cancer over time.
Pap tests and HPV tests serve different purposes. A Pap test looks for abnormal cervical cells, while an HPV test checks for high-risk types of the virus that can cause those changes. Depending on your age, medical history and previous results, your provider may recommend one test or both.
TRICARE covers Pap tests, HPV DNA testing and HPV self-collection methods. Your care team can help determine which screening method and schedule are right for you.
A more comfortable way to get screened
Self-collection may help patients who have delayed screening because of discomfort with pelvic exams, a history of trauma or other barriers to care.
Madigan patients interested in this option should contact their primary care or women’s health team by phone, during an appointment or through secure messaging in the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. Collection is available within the primary care and women’s health clinics in addition to the lab at Madigan. A provider will review their medical history and explain the next steps.
A positive HPV result does not mean a patient has cancer. It means follow-up evaluation may be needed. Self-collection does not replace every pelvic exam or follow-up procedure, so patients should review their results and recommended care with their provider.
Vaccination adds protection
HPV vaccination helps prevent new infections with HPV types that cause cancer. Adults through age 26 who have not completed vaccination should ask their provider about catching up. For adults ages 27 through 45, vaccination is an individual decision made with a provider. Vaccinated patients still need recommended cervical cancer screening.
Know your coverage
TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select beneficiaries generally pay nothing for covered preventive cervical cancer screenings received from network providers. Non-active-duty beneficiaries can receive covered preventive services from network providers without a referral. Active-duty service members need authorization before receiving preventive care from a civilian provider.
Take the next step
If you receive care at Madigan and are unsure when you were last screened, contact your care team. Ask whether you are due for screening, which test fits your needs and whether HPV self-collection is an option for you. Staying current on preventive care supports your long-term health and the readiness of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community.
