The lives of hundreds of women all over Ireland could be saved as the result of a new Clare invention which allows women to undertake smear tests in their own home.
Ennis student, Emilia Janik, has developed Reala, which she hopes could be adopted by the HSE and rolled out across Ireland in the years to come.
Reala is an easy to use home smear test and accompanying app, which provides women with the equipment and knowledge to administer their own smear tests.
The equipment is fully compatible with the HSE’s existing testing system, so the tests can be assessed by posting them to an official HPV testing lab.
Emilia, who is a final year Product Design and Technology student at the University of Limerick, says that a lot of women face barriers when undertaking smear tests and her invention could help more women to get tested on a regular basis.
Currently women are invited to have their first cervical screening at age 25, with CervicalCheck providing free regular tests to all women aged between 25 to 65.
Research shows that many women find cervical screening unpleasant and some avoid being tested, especially when they are due to have their first screening.
“This is about supporting women to do this for themselves. There are a lot of issues related to this, things like body confidence and past traumas. A lot of women just don’t feel comfortable doing it,” said Emilia.
“If there is a possibility of doing this from home, more women will do it.
“Especially when it is their first screening. If they do their screening from home a couple of times they might then feel more comfortable going to a clinic to have it done.
“My research showed me that there are a lot of barriers for women attending their first cervical screening.
From the people I interviewed, a lot of women in their 40s, for example, told me about their discomfort and the limitations that they have as their life gets more and more busy.
“It is an uncomfortable procedure, it is not empowering and there are a lot of mental things going on when you do have a screening.
The device is design to be easy to use and reusable and, similar to other home diagnostic kits currently available, it has been made to be fully integrated into the HSE’s current testing regime.
“The device has four swabs tips, so it is reusable. You take the swab yourself and send them off to the labs to see if you have HPV,” she said.
“There are two types of HPV, high risk and low risk. If the test comes back as low risk HPV, the idea is that you conduct another test with the same device in about six months.
“If you come back with a high risk result, then you should go to a clinic and get a full test, as that could indicate cancer.”
In addition to the testing kit, Reala also includes an app which is designed to provide women with the information they need t fully understand the process, but given in an easily accessible way.
“There is a stigma talking to girls about this. Talking about screenings and women’s health, that can be shied away from. I wanted there to an educational aspect to this,” she said.
“When I started working on this, I didn’t know how a person for cervical cancer. I knew that I got a vaccine when I was in first year.
“There is education there, but I know do they really resonate with young women.
“I wanted to create the app to educate young women. There are quizzes in the app, fun facts, things like that that could help a young person to engage with the information.
“It is all about making the information sound fun, or at least no intimidating. It is the same with the design for the test, I didn’t want that to be intimidating either.”
Emilia hopes that her product can help carry on the good work of fellow Ennis woman, Laura Brennan, who was a key campaigner for the HPV vaccine before her death in 2019, aged just 26.
In the months before her death, Laura helped drive the national vaccine uptake rate up from 51% to 70%.
“I knew of her and I did research into her foundation. I think she did so much to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened, especially among young women,” said Emilia.
Emilia has just completed her studies at the University of Limerick.
Reala is currently not available commercially, but she hopes that the HSE will consider rolling in out in the years to come.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and podcaster who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.