Waters Corporation and Labcorp have announced a partnership to widen access to cervical cancer screening in the United States. From late 2026, Labcorp plans to offer the FDA-approved BD Onclarity HPV Assay across its nationwide laboratory network.
What the partnership offers
Testing is planned for both clinician-collected and self-collected samples, in clinics, patient service centers and at home. Labcorp says its network reaches more than 850,000 physicians and healthcare providers and over 2,200 patient service centers. The tests will support its clinician programs, its Gaps in Care health plan programs and the Labcorp OnDemand consumer channel.
Jeff Andrews, vice president of medical affairs at Waters Advanced Diagnostics, said privacy, access and socioeconomic factors can make it hard for patients to stay up to date with screening. The companies say the aim is to reach people who have historically been underserved. Dr. Brian Caveney, Labcorp’s chief medical and scientific officer, said the goal is to help women stay current and reach those overdue for care, supporting earlier identification of cervical cancer risk.
What the test does
The BD Onclarity HPV Assay is the only FDA-approved HPV test that supports all American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Enduring Risk-Based Management Guidelines. It names six high-risk HPV types individually (16, 18, 31, 45, 51 and 52) and reports three pooled groups alongside them.
That detail matters. Types 16, 18 and 45 are linked to a higher risk of cervical cancer. Vaccination has cut infections from types 16 and 18, so other high-risk strains now account for a growing share of cervical disease, particularly among younger, vaccinated women. The encouraging part is that extended genotyping can help clinicians see those shifting risks, though it is early to judge how much it will change outcomes.
A note on the business side
Waters shares have gained 20.1 percent this year, according to a market report, but that says nothing about clinical results. Becton, Dickinson and Company remains the legal manufacturer of the assay and keeps regulatory responsibility until the transfers to Waters, which acquired the relevant BD businesses, are complete.
Screening has long been one of the most effective ways to catch cervical cancer early, and easier options may help more women take part. New tests do not replace regular check-ups. Talk to your doctor about whether extended genotyping suits your situation and which screening choices fit your life and history.
Sources
- Waters and Labcorp to Expand Access to Cervical Cancer Screening with the Most Comprehensive FDA-Approved HPV Testing Option Beginning in Late 2026 | BioBuzz
- Waters & Labcorp Expand Access to FDA-Approved HPV Screening Tests
- Labcorp and Waters Partner to Offer Extended-Genotype BD Onclarity HPV Assay Nationwide
Photo: Kari Bjorn Photography / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
