- In a significant achievement for cervical cancer screening, India has officially approved the indigenous Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test, ‘Truenat HR-HPV-Plus’.
- This test has been developed by the Goa-based company Molbio Diagnostics. The technology has been successfully validated by scientists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi), various institutes under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization based in France.
- This move is considered a major milestone in India's health research capabilities and cancer screening technology.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses comprising both low-risk and high-risk types.
- Persistent high-risk infections can lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a serious disease that develops in the lower part of the uterus—the cervix—in women.
- This health issue is widespread in India, with approximately 127,000 new cases reported annually and around 80,000 women losing their lives to the disease.
- In this context, this indigenous test could prove to be a crucial step towards timely detection and treatment.
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