What is “VIA”?

VIA—or “visual inspection with acetic acid”—is a simple single-step way of identifying abnormalities on a women’s cervix that have the potential to become cervical cancer.

The only tools needed are white vinegar, a cotton ball, a flashlight and the naked eye. By swabbing a women’s cervix with vinegar and waiting two minutes, the areas on a cervix that are not normal will look white and could represent potential pre-cancers. We can then treat those areas in the same visit.

In recent studies VIA has been shown to be as effective in detecting pre-cancer of the cervix as traditional screening with a PAP smear. Whereas a PAP smear requires collection of a sample, processing of the sample and then interpretation by a trained laboratory technician, VIA uses readily available materials and is a screening test with onsite immediate results. Women know right away if they have a “positive” (white area identified) test or a “negative” (no white areas seen). Treatment to the abnormal area is most often provided when needed as soon as the VIA is done. It a convenient and cost effect method of detecting and then treating precancerous changes on the cervix.

VIA works very well in low resource health care areas. It requires only a few readily available supplies and a health care worker trained to do the screening and provide a same day treatment. It is a one-step process for women who have limited or infrequent access to a health center. This makes VIA a success in reducing the cervical cancer rate for women around the world.