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Urine analysis could soon be used to detect Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and replace the more invasive smear test for cervical cancer screening.

New findings published in the British Medical Journal show that urine analysis could be effectively used in detecting both positive and negative infections of HPV, including specific strains that are known to cause cancers of cervix which kill 266,000 women annually. IB Times reports that the recently published findings were based on 14 studies involving 1,443 sexually active women.

Nearly 87 per cent of positive HPV cases and 94 per cent negative cases were detected by urine analysis which researchers said was satisfactory, Daily Mail reported. Detection of HPV 16 and HPV 18 two high-risk strains associated with cervical cancer showed 73 per cent accuracy. A 98 per cent accuracy was found in negative cases.

"The detection of HPV in urine is non-invasive, easily accessible, and acceptable to women," researchers were quoted by Daily Mail. Calling for comprehensive large-scale trials, researchers said urine analysis could possibly be offered as alternative to Pap smear tests.

Besides being non-invasive, urine analysis can also be performed at home by women and later interpreted by physicians. Pap smears tests involve inserting a speculum into the vagina to scrub off cells from the cervix for examination. Though the smear tests saves thousands of lives every year by facilitating early detection of pre-cancerous cells, nearly 20 per cent women give the test a miss in UK.

"A urine test which is much less invasive will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the number of women being tested.  Currently approximately 20 per cent of eligible women invited for cervical screening fail to attend and anything that can be done to encourage more women to be screened should save lives," Liz Engel, spokesperson for the non-profit Eve Appeal was quoted in The Independent.