Teal Health has secured $22 million in Series A funding to expand its at-home HPV cervical cancer screening device, the startup announced. Based in San Francisco, Teal Health’s FDA-authorized Teal Wand allows users to self-collect samples at home and pairs with a telehealth service to deliver results and arrange follow-up care if necessary. The latest funding round brings the company’s total capital to $45 million, with backing from investors including .406 Ventures, Emerson Collective, and MPower Partners, a Japan-based firm.
The new investment will accelerate Teal Health’s growth in collaborations with insurers, healthcare systems, and employers, while also broadening direct-to-consumer sales. The screening kit is priced at $99 with insurance coverage and $249 for out-of-pocket purchases, with reimbursement available through major providers such as Aetna, Anthem, and UnitedHealthcare. Beginning in January 2027, federal rules will require most health plans to cover self-collection for cervical cancer screening, aligning with the company’s strategy.
Research shows that roughly one-third of U.S. women have never undergone cervical cancer screening, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates the disease will claim 4,200 lives in 2026. Teal Health seeks to overcome two key barriers, limited appointment availability and discomfort with in-person visits, by offering a more convenient testing option. The company will now focus on scaling its distribution network, gathering additional clinical evidence for self-collection methods, and improving its telehealth platform to create a smoother process from sample collection through follow-up care.
This development highlights a growing trend toward at-home diagnostic tools, especially in preventive care, where ease of use often competes with maintaining accuracy. While traditional in-clinic screening remains the established standard, self-collection methods could gain wider acceptance if reimbursement policies stabilize and healthcare providers integrate the technology into routine care. Teal Health’s emphasis on partnerships with insurers suggests it will prioritize expanding coverage over direct consumer sales, though both approaches will remain important as federal coverage mandates take effect.
Kara Egan, Teal Health’s CEO and founder, described the funding as a milestone in establishing at-home screening as a standard component of preventive healthcare. Moving forward, the company will expand its national footprint while continuing to strengthen the clinical data supporting self-collection as a reliable alternative to traditional clinic-based testing.
