The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in association with research body Indian Council of Medical Research have started a multi-centre trial to evaluate three indigenous human papillomavirus tests of international quality standard for detecting cervical cancer at the early stage.
The trial began on January 22 and aims to develop an accurate and affordable test which can be integrated into the National Cancer Screening Programme, Dr Neerja Bhatla, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS said.
“The present indigenous tests available have not yet been validated for conformity with international standards,” she said.
The Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test for cancer detection which has a risk of false positive is being used under the national programme currently and it is not accurate, Bhatla said.
To validate these tests, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has collaborated with WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The agency would be providing around 12,00 samples for testing, she said.
The three HPV tests will be conducted at three separate laboratories of the AIIMS, the National Institute of Cancer Prevention Research in Noida and the National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health in Mumbai, she said.
Meanwhile, doctors have said that women over the age of 30 should get screened periodically for cervical cancer through HPV, Pap or VIA tests.
They also recommended that young girls should get the HPV vaccine preferably before the age of 15 years.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has inked agreements with multiple stakeholders for the…
Pharma major Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals has secured a patent for its Room Temperature Stable…
A report by an expert group set up by NITI Aayog report titled ‘Future Pandemic…
The union health ministry has sought an action taken report from State governments and Union…
Jupiter Hospital, a leading tertiary care provider in Pune, recently hosted the Jupiter Administration Symposium…
Under the aegis of National One Health Mission (NOHM), a comprehensive national mock drill, "Vishanu…