Diagnostic launched for prevention of cervical cancer in India
Screening for prevention of cervical cancer in low-resource areas becomes priority for Netherlands-based company.
QIAGEN (Limburg, The Netherlands) recently launched a molecular diagnostic in India for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically designed to screen women in locations that have limited healthcare infrastructure. HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer so screening for the infection will aid prevention and early treatment of the cancer.
According to the manufacturers, the diagnostic, named careHPV TestTM, is color-coded, simple to use and has self-contained reagents. It is able to tolerate temperature variations making it suitable for clinics that lack refrigeration for sample storage, due to lack of electricity and/or water. It is hoped that the test will aid the prevention of cervical cancer, the number one cause of death in middle-aged Indian women, with approximately 72,000 deaths each year.
Victor Shi, President of QIAGEN Asia Pacific commented, “The launch of careHPV in India will help in efforts to reduce the high burden of cervical cancer for women in India. With the digene HC2 HPV Test serving areas that have modern healthcare infrastructure and the careHPV Test serving low-resource areas, QIAGEN is expanding our role as the global leader in preventive screening for cervical cancer and continuing to contribute to women’s health around the world.”
Partha Basu, Head of the Department of Gynecological Oncology and Officer In Charge, Division of Preventive Oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, explained, “Based on the findings of the screening project that we have been doing for 4 years in Kolkata and surrounding areas, there is a need for a cost-effective and easy-to-use test which can best meet the requirements of low-resource settings. Availability of the careHPV Test is an important step forward for the prevention of cervical cancer in India.”
Source: QIAGEN launches careHPV Test in India to expand preventive screening against cervical cancer.
