Cervical cancer: New test should help with early detection of HPV infection
Created: 07/09/2022, 22:31
By: Tanja Koch
A swab is also required for the Cobas test for cervical cancer screening.
© matej kastelic/Imago
The pharmaceutical company Roche is launching a test that should ensure that more cervical cancer patients can be cured.
Basel – Around 80 percent of all sexually active women will become infected with HPV, a virus that can cause cervical cancer, at least once in their lives.
That explains the Robert Koch Institute.
If cervical cancer is detected early, it can be cured in many cases.
However, especially in low-income countries, the diagnosis is often made too late.
From poor access to the programs, bad experiences in the past to feelings of shame - there are many reasons why women do not take part in screening programs for cervical cancer, the pharmaceutical company Roche explains according to
handelszeitung.ch.
In Germany, a Pap smear is part of cervical cancer screening.
But this does not recognize HP viruses, but cell changes.
This can lead to misdiagnosis and missed infections.
Roche's cervical cancer test detects viruses instead of just cell changes
The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is now launching another test: "Cobas" identifies the most dangerous high-risk types HPV 16 and 18 individually, as Roche explains on the website for the innovation.
In total, the test detects 14 high-risk HP viruses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic acid hybridization for specific genotyping.
The time required for the tests is low, explains Roche.
Only 1 milliliter of sample had to be obtained from the swab.
The tests can be evaluated on the Cobas 4800, 6800 and 8800 systems - the devices that are also used for corona tests.
According to
handelszeitung.ch
, the Chairman of the Board of Directors Christoph Franz recently explained in an interview with journalists that Roche has increased its presence with the devices from 600 to 800 before the pandemic to 1900 now. A broad application of the Cobas HPV tests could therefore probably be implemented quickly.
Vaccination protects against cervical cancer-causing HP viruses
In addition to regular swabs, HPV prevention also includes vaccination, which reduces the risk.
This has been a statutory health insurance benefit for girls since 2017 and for boys since 2018.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends them between the ages of 9 and 14.
An evaluation by the Hessen Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians for the years 2014 to April 2021 shows: Just under half of all girls in Hessen are vaccinated against human papilloma viruses (HPV) and 18 percent of boys.
Roche's Cobas test should therefore make an important contribution to cancer prevention not only in low-income countries, but also in Germany.
(Tanja Koch with dpa)